Cardinal women improve to 5-0

LA GRANDE, Ore. - Aubree Mercier and Anna Valentine had one goal and an assist apiece as the North Idaho College Cardinals defeated the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers of the NAIA 4-0 in a nonconference women's college soccer match Wednesday.

Lauren Gibson and Hannah Slinkard had four saves apiece for NIC (5-0), which hosts Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., on Friday.

"We talked at halftime about slowing down and remaining calm," NIC coach Dan Hogan said. "We worked on possessing the ball and waiting for the ball to come to us. In the first half, we were rushing the ball. Eastern Oregon should be a good team, so it was a good match to find out how good we can be. It was good to be facing a four-year school that should be pretty decent."

First half - 1, NIC, Demi Wignot (Aubree Mercier), 40:00. Second half - 2, NIC, Kellee Tilson (Anna Valentine), 63:00. 3, NIC, Valentine (Tia Sharp), 65:00. 4, NIC, Mercier (Hannah Slinkard), 67:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 17, EOU 10.

Saves - NIC, Allysa Howell 1, Lauren Gibson 4, Hannah Slinkard 4; EOU, Chantal Schefers 8.