NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men beat Walla Walla

| October 23, 2016 9:00 PM

• MEN’S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — It took a heads-up play by former Coeur d’Alene High standout Gunnar Skindlov, but the pressure is off — for now — as far as the North Idaho College chances of advancing to the postseason.

Skindlov advanced the ball on a header to Joey Perez, who booted the ball into the back of the net in the 85th minute, sending the Cardinals past the visiting Walla Walla Warriors 2-1 in a Northwest Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field on Saturday.

“Walla Walla tried to play it through the air, and Gunnar headed it ahead to Jose, who slammed it in from long range,” NIC men’s soccer coach Ken Thompson said. “It was the most dramatic goal of the year for us and quite a shot.”

NIC (6-7-4, 6-5-2 NWAC) can clinch a playoff spot with either a win against the visiting Community Colleges of Spokane on Wednesday, or against Wenatchee Valley next Saturday in the regular season finale at Eisenwinter Field. Walla Walla is second in the East Region at 9-5-3, 6-5-2.

“We didn’t want to leave anything on the table today,” Thompson said. “Our division has been competitive all year, and something always seems to be happening. With the win today and next Saturday, it’s nice to take the pressure off on Wednesday.”

First half — 1, WW, Missael Lopez (Miguel Rodriguez), 15:00. 2, NIC, Munganza Katanga (unassisted), 39:00. Second half — 3, NIC, Jose Perez (Gunnar Skindlov), 85:00.

Shots on goal — WW 11, NIC 10.

Saves — WW, Jorge Llerenas 2; NIC, Garrett Boyce 6.

• WOMEN’S SOCCER

North Idaho 1

Walla Walla 0

COEUR d’ALENE — Tiegan Horton had two saves in net — her seventh shutout of the season — as the Cardinals shut out the Warriors at Eisenwinter Field.

Madeline Roberts scored in the 58th minute for NIC (12-1-2, 10-0-2 NWAC), which hosts Spokane in a matchup for first place in the East Region on Wednesday at Eisenwinter Field.

Walla Walla is 12-4-2, 8-3-1 and will be the third seed out of the East Region to the conference playoffs.

First half — none. Second half — 1, NIC, Madeline Roberts (unassisted), 58:00.

Shots on goal — WW 3, NIC 8.

Saves — WW, Paige Kubista 7; NIC, Tiegan Horton 2.