NIC ROUNDUP: Subs provide spark as Cardinal men rally for draw

• MEN'S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — Seeking a spark in the second half, North Idaho College men’s soccer coach Ken Thompson flipped his lineup with 20 minutes left.

It very nearly paid off in a big way.

Midfielder Omar Renteria scored in the 66th minute and Chris Meza scored on an assist in the 82nd for the Cardinals, who fought back from an early hole to tie the Community Colleges of Spokane 2-2 in a Northwest Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field on Wednesday.

“We came out flat and struggled to connect passes in the first half,” Thompson said. “We gave up one, then another to start the second half and then made a bunch of changes.”

Enter Renteria and Meza, both reserves.

“Those guys made the most of their opportunities,” Thompson said. “We had four guys (Cameron Mason, AJ Putnam, Renteria, Meza) that stepped up and really lifted us up. Just in 30 minutes of time, they showed us that they’ve earned more time. Those guys, they’ve hung in, worked for their minutes and did just a great job today.”

NIC (7-2-1, 3-2-1 NWAC) was without leading scorer Braden Bennett, who missed the game after receiving a yellow card in last Saturday’s match at Columbia Basin.

Stuart Heringer had 12 saves for NIC, which hosts Walla Walla on Saturday.

“Stuart was huge for us today,” Thompson said. “He had some huge saves and made a lot of big plays for us.”

Spokane is 2-5-1, 2-3-1.

First half — 1, CCS, Alex McNeill (unassisted), 14:12. Second half — 2, CCS, McNeill (unassisted), 54:38. 3, NIC, Omar Renteria (unassisted), 66:37. 4, NIC, Chris Meza (Michael De La Torre), 82:15.

Shots on goal — CCS 12, NIC 5.

Saves — CCS, Jason Sotelo 3; NIC, Stuart Heringer 10.

• WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 2

CC of Spokane 1, OT

COEUR d’ALENE — Lauren Oliva scored on an assist from Emily Stuart in overtime to send the Cardinals past the Sasquatch in a Northwest Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field.

Jenna Allen scored on an assist from Zoey Beebe to tie the match at 1-1 at halftime for NIC, which had 12 saves from Hailee Mize.

NIC (8-2-0, 5-1-0 NWAC) hosts Walla Walla on Saturday.

Spokane is 5-2-1, 4-2-0.

First half — 1, CCS, Brooke Snyder (unassisted). 2, NIC, Jenna Allen (Zoey Beebe). Second half — none. Overtime — 3, NIC, Lauren Oliva (Emily Stuart).

Shots on goal — CCS 13, NIC 9.

Saves — CCS, Kiah Gary 7; NIC, Hailee Mize 12.

• VOLLEYBALL

North Idaho at

CC of Spokane, for.

SPOKANE — The Northwest Athletic Conference match was declared a forfeit after the Cardinals were placed under quarantine under conference protocols.

NIC was placed in quarantine following a Sept. 22 match at home against Blue Mountain Community College in which a player from the opposing team tested positive following the match. Under protocol, the team that is unable to play must forfeit to the opposing team.

NIC is scheduled to return to action at home on Friday against Walla Walla.