NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men's soccer team ends slide
• MEN’S SOCCER
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Goals by Muganza Katanga and Jose Perez gave North Idaho College a 2-0 lead after 29 minutes, and the Cardinals went on to snap a three-match winless streak with a 2-1 victory over the Walla Walla Warriors on Wednesday in Northwest Athletic Conference East Region play.
“Especially in the field, we really looked like the team we thought we’d by,” NIC coach Ken Thompson said. “We had a lot of quick combinations in tight spaces, and changed the point of attack quite a bit.”
Perez’s goal for NIC (4-7-3, 4-5-1 NWAC) came on a header off a corner kick from Kade Murphree.
“On the first (goal), the buildup was good,” Thompson said. “We had quick decision making (throughout the game), and a lot of unselfish play.”
NIC entered the game in fourth place in the East Region.
Walla Walla, which entered the day second in the East Region, is 8-3-3, 5-3-2.
NIC travels to Ontario, Ore., on Saturday to play Treasure Valley.
First half — 1, Muganza Katanga (unassisted), 24:00. 2, Jose Perez (Kade Murphree), 29:00. 3, WW, Brenden Kenley (Dan Mende), 41:00. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — NIC 4, WW 9
Saves — NIC, Garrett Boyce 2; WW, Jorge Llerenas 1.
• WOMEN’S SOCCER
North Idaho 3
Walla Walla 0
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Monique Queen had a goal and an assist in the final 10 minutes to help the Cardinals pull away from the Warriors in Northwest Athletic Conference East Region play.
The first goal for NIC (10-1-1, 8-0-1) came in the eighth minute after Emily Aspden’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was deflected to the top of penalty area, where Jocelyn Cook-Cox was waiting. She took one touch to set it up and drove a low shot into the left side of the goal.
Queen slipped a pass between two defenders to Sadie Schmeling, who scored in the 80th minute.
The final tally was set up by Megan Lowery fighting past a defender and looking up just in time to pass the ball to Queen in the center of the penalty area. Queen pushed the ball past the last defender and slotted the ball into the net.
Walla Walla is 10-3-2, 6-2-1.
NIC plays host to Yakima Valley on Saturday at noon.
First half — 1, NIC, Jocelyn Cook-Cox (unassisted), 8:00. Second half — 2, NIC, Sadie Schmeling (Monique Queen), 80:00. 3, NIC, Monique Queen (Meg Lowery), 86:00.
Shots on goal — NIC 12, WW 15
Saves — NIC, Tiegan Horton 6; WW, 2.
• VOLLEYBALL
North Idaho d.
Columbia Basin
PASCO, Wash. — Halle Hess totaled 11 kills, 12 digs and two aces as the Cardinals beat the Hawks 25-14, 25-14, 26-24 in Northwest Athletic Conference East Region play.
Brooke Bell had 10 kills, Brittany Gay 31 assists, Zuri Meehan 13 digs for North Idaho (13-11, 8-2 NWAC).
“A quick trip over to Columbia Basin is never easy, to jump off the bus and play,” NIC coach Kelsey Stanley said, “but the girls did a nice job adjusting to CBC and finishing the third game to take it all.”
CBC dipped to 15-19, 5-5.
NIC plays in an NWAC crossover tournament Saturday and Sunday in Coos Bay, Ore.