Rivals close in distance, skill sets

Wednesday’s women’s soccer match at Eisenwinter Field in Coeur d’Alene was exactly what a rivalry matchup should be.

Two teams — North Idaho College and the Community Colleges of Spokane — facing off with a title on the line.

Exactly how you’d draw it up when you mapped out the schedule before the season.

WHILE BOTH Spokane and NIC had already clinched berths into the Northwest Athletic Conference women’s soccer playoffs, the East Region title was still up for grabs in an afternoon match.

Spokane broke through early in the second half for the lone goal of the match — and season — between the two, as the Sasquatch beat the Cardinals 1-0.

“Coaching staff wise, we both know how each of us likes to play,” NIC women’s soccer coach Dan Hogan said.

Starting this year, NIC provided free webcasts of home soccer matches, adding to the school’s coverage of men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling and volleyball. Spokane, Walla Walla, Columbia Basin, Wenatchee Valley and Treasure Valley also webcast their home events.

“It makes it a little tougher now that everyone can see video of each other’s matches,” Hogan said. “It’s make it tough to keep playing the same style all year.”

Hogan is in his 21st season as a coach at NIC, 16th as women’s soccer coach. Community Colleges of Spokane coach Jim Martinson is in his 18th year with the program.

“There’s definitely a rivalry between the schools,” Martinson said. “Dan and I are friends, but there’s a rivalry between the schools for sure. The kids know each other. Nobody wants to lose this battle for sure.”

Still, Martinson added that the matchup has its fun and nerve-wracking moments.

“It’s a little of both,” Martinson said. “It’s fun and this is why we do it for these kinds of games. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous.”

In case you missed it, while NIC’s men aren’t headed to the playoffs, the Cardinals swept Spokane in conference matches this year.

SO PERHAPS the biggest difference between the two programs could be as small as the playing surface each plays on.

NIC has its natural grass at Eisenwinter Field. Spokane has the artificial turf at Spokane Falls Community College.

“The field (at NIC), it’s a little smaller than ours, but not by much,” Martinson said. “With grass, it’s a little lumpier than we’re used to playing on. The turf is true to us, so early on, it was taking three touches to do what we’d want to do in one just trying to get the ball settled. By the time we’d get the ball settled, the passing lanes were closed.”

As far as the playoffs go, NIC hosts Portland on Wednesday afternoon.

“Now, we just start over,” Hogan said.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.