NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men bounce back over Colorado Northwestern

• MEN'S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — The Cardinals got healthy and back to what led them to the NJCAA polls for most of the season. 

Freshman Ismael Mane had a goal and assist in the second half for the 15th-ranked Cardinals in a 5-0 win over Colorado Northwestern in Scenic West Athletic Conference play on Thursday at Eisenwinter Field. 

NIC (13-2-3, 8-2-3 SWAC) hosts Salt Lake in its regular season finale on Saturday. The Cardinals, with a win, will be the No. 2 seed in the Region 18 tournament in Taylorsville, Utah, beginning next Thursday. The Bruins will be the top seed and face fourth-seeded Utah State-Eastern in the regional opener. No matter its result Saturday, NIC will face Snow in its semifinal next Thursday. 

NIC limited Colorado Northwestern (4-12-1, 3-10) to one shot on goal, snapping a two-game losing streak. 

“We kind of looked like ourselves,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “Our playing style and overall defensive play improved from the last two games. I was really impressed with the effort the guys gave.” 

First half — 1, NIC, Enzo Manga (Adem Arous), 5:00. 2, NIC, Mouhamed Fadel (penalty kick), 20:00. Second half — 3, NIC, Ismael Mane (Daniel Gutierrez), 52:00. 4, NIC, Amani Contreras (Manuel Piscane), 80:00. 5, NIC, Rayan Berbachi (Mane), 82:00. 

Shots on goal — CNCC 1, NIC 14. 

Saves — NIC, Alejandro Jimenez 3, Sebastian Barreda 5; NIC, Kael McGowan 1. 

• WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 2 

Colorado Northwestern 2 

COEUR d’ALENE — Freshman defender Kaylee Smith scored the tying goal in the 73rd minute for the Cardinals in a Scenic West Athletic Conference draw with the Spartans at Eisenwinter Field. 

Smith finished with a goal and assist for NIC (7-6-3, 6-5-2 SWAC), which hosts Salt Lake (13-2-0, 11-2-0) on Saturday to conclude the regular season. The Bruins are currently second in the conference, with the Cardinals third. Snow (13-1-2, 10-1-2) leads the conference. 

“Kaylee all year has been phenomenal for us,” NIC coach Kellsi Parson said. “After we fell behind, we went to a 3-5-2 and put her into the attacking third and she scored, so we moved her back. When we need her to score, she scores. When we need her to defend, she defends. Without her, we’re not in the position we are right now.”

Colorado Northwestern is 8-5-4, 4-5-4. 

First half — 1, NIC, Alvine Dah-Zossu (Kaylee Smith), 8:20. 2, CNCC, Chloe Vowell (unassisted), 13:42. Second half — 3, CNCC, Allee Willliams (Amelia Williams), 60:17. 4, NIC, Smith (Kara Michaelis), 73:24. 

Shots on goal — CNCC 9, NIC 8. 

Saves — CNCC, Jasmine Hernandez 6; NIC, Serena Hand 7. 

• GOLF

Cardinals 10th after second round

at nationals preview

NEWTON, Kan. — North Idaho College is 10th out of 15 teams after the second round of the NJCAA National Preview at San Creek Station, where this spring’s national tournament will be held. 

NIC freshman Noah Moody is 29th with a 156 after the second round. 

Charlie Box of Hutchinson leads with a 7-under-par 137 after shooting 4-under 68 in the second round. 

The tournament concludes today. 

NJCAA NATIONAL PREVIEW 

At Sand Creek Station 

Par 72 

7,200 yards

TEAM SCORES — 1, Hutchinson 292-296—588. 2, McLennan 295-306—601. 3, Dodge City 293-311—604. 4, Garden City 301-305—606. 5, Western Texas 296-311—607. 6, Weatherford 302-307—609. 7, Indian Hills 295-317—612. 8, New Mexico 299-315—614. 9, Odessa 297-322—619. 10, North Idaho 304-334—638. 11, Eastern Wyoming  318-323—641. 12, Eastern Arizona 327-323—650. 13, Otero 320-353—673. 14, New Mexico Military 336-346—682. 15, Mesalands 356-355—711.  

NORTH IDAHO — 29, Noah Moody 74-82—156; 33, Eli McNelly 74-83—157; t-45, Mason Bingham 77-83—160; t-59, Florian Riedel 79-86—165; t-72, Dyson Lish 84-93—177.