NIC MEN'S SOCCER: Kante kicks NIC men to victory
<p>After scoring his first of two goals, North Idaho College’s senior forward Hamidou Kante, right, celebrates with teammate Alec Maldonado during a match-up against Columbia Basin College on Wednesday at North Idaho College. The Cardinals went on to beat Columbia Basin 3-2.</p>
<p>North Idaho College senior forward Chris Wheelock, center, powers through Columbia Basin College’s Cesar Garcia, left, and Lorenzo Isiordia Wednesday at North Idaho College.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Hamidou Kante scored the final two goals, including the game winner in the 89th minute for North Idaho College after assisting on the first goal, helping the Cardinals rally to beat the Columbia Basin College Hawks 3-2 in a East Division matchup in Northwest Athletic Conference play on Wednesday at Eisenwinter Field.
"It was a very exciting goal for sure," NIC coach Ken Thompson said of the game winner. "In the first half, we were pretty sloppy and nobody was taking charge on the field."
Jake Kraut evened the scored in the 51st minute for NIC (4-2, 2-0 NWC), which travels to Walla Walla on Saturday.
"Putting Jake in the midfield after the half changed the momentum," Thompson said. "Hamidou was just composed in front of the goal and does a good job of reading the keeper and does what we need him to do. We've got to figure out how to play a full 90 minutes. We're still a group trying to put all the pieces together."
Columbia Basin is 2-2-1, 1-1.
First half - 1, CBC, Esteban Ojeda (Jair Dominguez), 13:00. Second half - 2 NIC, Jake Kraut (Hamidou Kante), 51:00. 3, CBC, Allen Trevino (unassisted), 60:00. 4, NIC, Kante (Jorge Carmona), 75:00. 5, NIC, Kante (free kick), 89:00.
Shots on goal - CBC 7, NIC 7.
Saves - CBC, Max Ramos 1; NIC, Mitch Markovetz 1, Tanner Horton 2.