NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal women get helping Hand, down Utah State-Eastern

• WOMEN’S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — Serena Hand, a freshman goalkeeper, had five saves for North Idaho College, which scored two goals in less than four minutes in the second half to move past Utah State-Eastern 2-0 in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Eisenwinter Field on Saturday. 

“Serena has been unbelievable the last few games for us,” said NIC coach Kellsi Parson, whose team can clinch a berth to the Region 18 tournament with a win at home Thursday against Colorado Northwestern. “She’s playing like one of the top keepers in the NJCAA.”

Freshman Amy Smith scored in the 73rd minute to give NIC a 1-0 lead. Freshman McKenzie White followed in the 77th for the Cardinals, who lost 1-0 to the Eagles on Sept. 21 in Price, Utah. 

NIC (7-6-2, 6-5-1 SWAC), which is third in the conference, hosts fourth-place Colorado Northwestern on Thursday at 1 p.m. The top four teams advance to the Region 18 tournament.

Utah State-Eastern is 6-7-2, 4-7-1. 

First half — none. Second half — 1, NIC, Amy Smith (Alvine Dah-Zossu), 73:47. 2, NIC, McKenzie White (unassisted), 77:26.  

Shots on goal — USUE 6, NIC 5. 

Saves — USUE, Sarah Newman 3; NIC, Serena Hand 5. 

• MEN’S SOCCER

Utah State-Eastern 3 

North Idaho 2

COEUR d’ALENE — Freshman defender Richard Bollanga scored twice in the first half for the 11th-ranked Cardinals, but a late goal by Boston Peterson gave the visitors from Price, Utah, the Scenic West Athletic Conference win at Eisenwinter Field. 

Utah State-Eastern’s Davis Bormanis scored in the 55th minute to tie the game, then Peterson scored on an assist from Owen Gaisford for the final score. 

“We had a couple of chances to win the game, and didn’t finish the ball,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “We had a couple of unlucky bounces and a few that we did to ourselves. It’s been a little bit of a rough period being depleted with injuries. To drop back-to-back games, it’s disappointing, but we’ll get back to work and hopefully on the winning track.” 

On Thursday, Salt Lake clinched the conference title and will host the top four teams in the Region 18 men’s and women’s tournament in Taylorsville, Utah, with semifinal games on Oct. 31 and the championship on Nov. 2.

Third-place NIC (12-2-3, 7-2-3 SWAC) hosts Colorado Northwestern on Thursday, and Salt Lake on Saturday.

Utah State-Eastern is in fourth at 6-6-3, 6-4-2. 

First half — 1, USUE, Brennen Lamont (Dodi Makassa), 20:48. 2, NIC, Richard Bollanga (Daniel Gutierrez), 39:42. 3, NIC, Bollanga (Rayan Berbachi), 45:00. Second half — 3, USUE, Davis Bormanis (unassisted), 55:14. 5, USUE, Boston Peterson (Owen Gaisford), 86:12.  

Shots on goal — USUE 6, NIC 4. 

Saves — USUE, Thiago Moreira 2; NIC, Kael McGowan 3. 

• VOLLEYBALL

Salt Lake d. 

North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — Morgan Claus, a sophomore from Moscow High, had seven kills for the Cardinals in a 25-13, 25-17, 25-22 loss to the 11th-ranked Bruins in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Christianson Gymnasium. 

“Salt Lake is a great serving team, with lots of pace and movement on the ball,” NIC coach Drew Pascua said. “We’d have to be on point with our passing in order to get creative in our offense to overcome their size. But we couldn’t get our rhythm in serve-receive. We know we are capable of battling these bigger teams when we pass well, so we’ll keep grinding away at it.”

Freshman Jordyn Williams had five kills and nine digs, freshman Brecklan Weaver nine digs and freshman Rylie Dolven 20 assists for NIC (8-11, 3-4 SWAC), which travels to Utah State-Eastern of Price, Utah, on Thursday. 

Logan Lindsay, Havi Montano and Kallie Johansen had eight kills each for Salt Lake (16-8, 5-2).

    NIC ATHLETICS North Idaho College freshman defender Richard Bollanga clears the ball during the first half of a Scenic West Athletic Conference match against Utah State-Eastern at Eisenwinter Field on Saturday.
  

    NIC ATHLETICS North Idaho College freshman libero Brecklan Weaver passes the ball to a teammate during a Scenic West Athletic Conference match against Salt Lake at Christianson Gymnasium on Saturday.