NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men, women gear up for Region 18 run
• MEN'S SOCCER
COEUR d’ALENE — Even in a setback, second-year North Idaho College men’s soccer coach Brad Williams can tell this team can contend later this week.
Salt Lake’s Gabriel Miranda scored in the 18th minute for the second-ranked Bruins in a 1-0 win over the 15th-ranked Cardinals in the Scenic West Athletic Conference final for both on Saturday at Eisenwinter Field.
“We worked extremely well together, but were very unlucky not to score a goal,” Williams said. “We hit the crossbar in the second half and had other chances. It was a really good performance and we’re looking forward to Thursday and traveling to the playoffs.”
NIC (13-3-3, 8-2-4 SWAC) will be the third-seed to the Region 18 Tournament and face second-seeded Snow on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Taylorsville, Utah.
Salt Lake (15-0-1, 13-0-1, the conference champion, hosts Utah State-Eastern in the other semifinal, with the winner’s playing Saturday at 1 p.m.
First half — 1, SLCC, Gabriel Miranda (Joon Han), 18:11. Second half — none.
Shots on goal — SLCC 4, NIC 1.
Saves — SLCC, Ben Maw 1; NIC, Tristan Edwards 3.
• WOMEN'S SOCCER
Salt Lake 3
North Idaho 0
COEUR d’ALENE — The Cardinals closed out the regular season with a Scenic West Athletic Conference loss to the Bruins at Eisenwinter Field.
“Knowing we were in the regional championships, we didn’t feel the need to play everyone,” NIC coach Kellsi Parson said. “We felt the need to get healthy rather than beat Salt Lake.”
NIC (7-7-3, 6-6-2 SWAC), which clinched a berth to the Region 18 Championships with Thursday’s win over Colorado Northwestern), will be the third-seed and face second-seeded Snow (14-1-2, 11-1-2) in an opening round match on Thursday in Taylorville, Utah.
First half — 1, SLCC, Whitney Garn (Kenadee Thomas), 14:43. Second half — 2, SLCC, Nao Yamada (unassisted), 69:43. 3, SLCC, Kendall Carter (unassisted), 75:08.
Shots on goal — SLCC 7, NIC 3.
Saves — SLCC, Elle Rafajko 3; NIC, Serena Hand 4.
• VOLLEYBALL
Snow d.
North Idaho
EPHRAIM, Utah — Sophomore Morgan Claus and freshman Jordyn Williams had 12 kills each for the Cardinals in a 24-26, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15 loss to the Badgers at the Horne Activity Center.
Williams, a Mt. Spokane High product, also had 10 digs for NIC (8-13, 3-6 SWAC).
NIC is currently tied with Southern Idaho (8-16, 3-6) for the fourth and final spot in the Region 18 Championships at the site of the league champion.
The teams will face off next Saturday in Twin Falls.
Snow (13-8, 5-3) is currently third in the conference.