NIC ROUNDUP: Bennett shines as Cardinal men romp

| September 5, 2021 1:10 AM

• MEN'S SOCCER

PUYALLUP, Wash. — Braden Bennett, a freshman forward from Pleasantville, Utah, scored four goals and added an assist for North Idaho College in a 10-0 romp of the Pierce Raiders in a nonconference game at Heritage Soccer Field on Saturday.

“In general, he’s just a good goal scorer,” NIC men’s soccer coach Ken Thompson said. “He’s very athletic and has a really soft touch and knows how to use his body. We haven’t had anyone like him that can win everything in the air, and he was able to create a lot of opportunities for himself and us today.”

Griffin Teuber had a goal and assist for NIC (4-0-0), which opens Northwest Athletic Conference play at Walla Walla on Wednesday.

“We’re more athletic in our back line than we’ve been in a long time,” Thompson said. “We’re five deep back there and have some guys that could be starting elsewhere. Everyone is definitely earning their spot.”

Pierce is 0-1-0.

First half — 1, NIC, Braden Bennett (Will Kokernak), 9:03. 2, NIC, own goal, 12:53. 3, NIC, Breyden Lane (unassisted), 13:14. 4, NIC, Bennett (Griffin Teuber), 21:00. 5, NIC, Josh Hieber (Evan Yost), 22:05. 6, NIC, Bennett (Yost), 24;16. 7, NIC, AJ Apple (Bennett), 26:58. 8, NIC, Teuber (unassisted), 35:35. 9, NIC, Michael De La Torre (unassisted), 37:55. Second half — 10, NIC, Bennett (unassisted), 78:13.

Shots on goal — NIC 11, Pierce 1.

Saves — NIC, Atzel Jimenez 1; Pierce, Josh Palafox 0, Gabe Foster 1.

• VOLLEYBALL

Cardinals down Yakima Valley,

NJCAA foe Northwest

COEUR d’ALENE — The Cardinals opened the season with a 2-1 record in a tournament held at Christianson Gymnasium.

NIC defeated Yakima Valley 25-17, 17-25, 25-21 25-18, then defeated Northwest of Powell, Wyo., 25-23, 25-14, 25-27, 25-17 on Saturday.

On Friday, Northwest defeated NIC 25-15, 25-21, 25-20.

The Carroll JV and Walla Walla were scheduled to compete, but backed out due to COVID-19 issues.

NIC (2-1) will compete in a crossover tournament at Pierce Community College in Puyallup, Wash., next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho

at Pierce, canc.

PULLAYUP, Wash. — The nonconference game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Pierce program.