NIC WOMEN'S SOCCER: Lowery sends Cards to NWAC final four

PORTLAND — Former Coeur d’Alene High standout Meg Lowery scored on an assist from Jessica Scott in the 90th minute, sending North Idaho College past Clark College 2-1 in a quarterfinal match in the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday at Delta Park in Portland.

It is the Cardinals’ first appearance in the NWAC final four since 2003 after moving to the NJCAA, then back to the NWAC in 2014.

“It feels good right now,” NIC coach Dan Hogan said. “We ended up being the only non-No. 1 team to the final four. “I’ve been trying to tell the girls they’re pretty good, but I don’t think they believed it until the game was over. It was a real team win tonight.”

NIC (14-2-3) will face Peninsula (17-1-1) in the semifinals on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. Peninsula beat Walla Walla 5-0 in other quarterfinal play.

“They’re the No. 1 team in the conference and beat up on Walla Walla in their quarterfinal,” Hogan said. “Most of the time, semifinal matches are really tough. But our team plays hard together as a team, and that’s been one of our goals all year long.”

Lake City High standout Tiegan Horton had five saves for NIC.

Clark finishes 14-3-1.

First half — 1, Clark, Ellie Querica (penalty kick), 14:00. 2, NIC, Jocelyn Cook-Cox (Sterling Healy), 31:00. Second half — 3, NIC, Meg Lowery (Jessica Scott), 90:00.

Shots on goal — NIC 6, Clark 6.

Saves — NIC, Tiegan Horton 5; Clark, Sarah Kaufman 4.