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NIC ROUNDUP: Bennett reads, reacts, wins game for Cardinal men

| September 12, 2021 1:05 AM

• MEN'S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — Braden Bennett does more than just score goals for the North Idaho College men’s soccer team.

He also makes heads-up plays, then scores goals.

The freshman forward stole the ball from one of the Blue Mountain backs as they played the ball back following the second-half kickoff, and scored the go-ahead goal as the Cardinals beat the Timberwolves 2-1 in Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday at Eisenwinter Field.

“He’s explosive, and can really read the play,” NIC coach Ken Thompson said of Bennett.

Bennett scored the first goal in the 11th minute for NIC (6-0-0, 2-0-0 NWAC), heading in a free kick from Griffin Teuber.

Blue Mountain (1-1-0, 1-1-0) tied it in the 36th minute on a goal by Sergio Varela in a flurry in front of the Cardinal goal.

Bennett’s ninth goal of the young season put NIC in the lead for good.

“It was a grinder,” Thompson said. “The guys know how to grind and defend.”

NIC plays host to Treasure Valley next Saturday.

First half — 1, NIC, Braden Bennett (Griffin Teuber), 11:00. 2, BM, Sergio Varela (Jesus Ruiz Alvarez), 36:00. Second half — 3, NIC, Bennett (unassisted), 46:00.

Shots on goal — BM 7, NIC 5.

Saves — BM, Levi Pedaggi 3; NIC, Stuart Heringer 6.

• WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 3

Blue Mountain 0

COEUR d’ALENE — Jenna Allen and Lauren Oliva scored in the first half for the Cardinals in a Northwest Athletic Conference win over the Timberwolves at Eisenwinter Field on Saturday.

Addison McCulloch had two assists for NIC (5-1-0, 2-0-0 NWAC), which hosts Treasure Valley next Saturday.

Blue Mountain is 0-3-1, 0-3-0.

First half — 1, NIC, Jenna Allen (Addison McCulloch), 22:51. 2, NIC, Lauren Oliva (unassisted), 34:40. Second half — 3, NIC, Lauren Johnson (McCulloch), 74:26.

Shots on goal — BMCC 1, NIC 13.

Saves — BMCC, Aeryn Elder, 10; NIC, Hailee Mize, 1.

• VOLLEYBALL

Rayborn shines at

Pierce crossover

PUYALLUP, Wash. — Janae Rayborn, a sophomore outside hitter from Lake City High, had 18 kills and 12 digs for the Cardinals in a 21-25, 25-19, 13-25, 25-21, 15-11 loss to the Raiders in bracket play at the Pierce College crossover tournament.

Maresa Maiava had 11 kills and 25 digs, Taylin Rowley, a sophomore setter from Coeur d’Alene High, had 20 assists and seven digs and Abigail Neff, a freshman from Lakeland, had 28 assists for NIC against Pierce.

Earlier in the day, NIC lost 3-1 to Rogue to conclude pool play 2-1. Stats from that match were not available.

NIC (4-3) opens conference play on Friday at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.