NIC SOCCER: Lowery records another hat trick for Cards

• WOMEN

PASCO, Wash. — Former Coeur d’Alene High standout Meg Lowery recorded a second half hat trick — two assists coming from Haley White to lead North Idaho College past the Columbia Basin Hawks 3-0 in Northwest Athletic Conference play on Wednesday.

“While Meg got the three goals, the whole team played well defending as a team,” NIC coach Dan Hogan said. “They did a good job of keeping possession of the ball.”

NIC (8-4-2, 6-2-1 NWAC, 19 points) moves into second place in the East Division, three points ahead of Treasure Valley (9-6-1, 5-3-1) and Columbia Basin (7-6-2, 5-4-1).

NIC travels to Walla Walla on Saturday.

First half — none. Second half — 1, NIC, Meg Lowery (Haley White), 48:00. 2. NIC, Lowery (unassisted), 50:00. 3, NIC, Lowery (White), 77:00.

Shots on goal — NIC 10, CBC 3.

Saves — NIC, Cassy Van Der May 3; CBC, Stephanie Gibson 5.

• MEN

Columbia Basin 1

North Idaho 0

PASCO, Wash — Mitch Markovetz stopped five shots for the Cardinals in a 1-0 loss to the Hawks in Northwest Athletic Conference play.

“We defended the ball really well today,” NIC coach Ken Thompson said. “Early on, if we could have gotten another step, we could have had a goal in the first minute. We created opportunities but couldn’t cash in.”

NIC (5-7-4, 3-5-4, 13 points) was without starting forwards Matt Howard, Hamidou Kante and Alec Maldonado. Howard and Kante are out with injuries and Maldonado received a fifth yellow card and had to sit for Wednesday’s match. The Cardinals are at Walla Walla on Saturday.

“We were playing quickly and getting some crosses,” Thompson said. “They fought until the end of the game.”

Columbia Basin is 7-7-1, 6-6-0 and with 18 points, leads NIC by five for the final playoff spot in the East Division with three games remaining.

First half — none. Second half — 1, CBC, Danny Romero (Jair Dominguez), 89:00.

Shots on goal — NIC 8, CBC 13.

Saves — NIC, Mitch Markovetz 5; CBC, Max Ramos 3.