NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal men up for No. 2 Salt Lake challenge in draw

• MEN'S SOCCER

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Second-year North Idaho College men’s soccer coach Brad Williams knew Saturday’s matchup with Salt Lake, the second-ranked team in the NJCAA, was going to be a challenge. 

It was one his team answered. 

Kael McGowan, a sophomore from Post Falls High, had five saves for the 20th-ranked Cardinals, who played to a 0-0 Scenic West Athletic Conference draw with the Bruins at Bruin Field. 

“We were really focused on us and not our opponent today,” Williams said. “The team knew going in it was going to be a hard game and a tough test, but we feel as if we’re just as good as anyone else in our league. We just need to keep improving.” 

Williams also praised his defense and McGowan, who was named conference Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week. 

“Kael had a lot of shots that were straight at him because of the play of our back line,” Williams said. “They really didn’t have a lot of great chances, but Kael was consistent and solid. He just did his job today.” 

NIC (10-0-2, 5-0-2 SWAC) travels to Pacific Northwest Christian of Kennewick, Wash., next Saturday for a SWAC matchup.

Salt Lake is 8-0-1, 6-0-1. 

First half — none. Second half — none. 

Shots on goal — NIC 2, SLCC 5. 

Saves — NIC, Kael McGowan 5; SLCC, Ben Maw 2. 

• VOLLEYBALL

North Idaho d. 

Southern Idaho 

COEUR d’ALENE — Jordyn Williams, a freshman from Mt. Spokane High, had 13 kills for the Cardinals in a 25-23, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18 win over the Golden Eagles in the Scenic West Athletic Conference opener for both at Christianson Gymnasium.

The Cardinals, back in the NJCAA’s Scenic West Athletic Conference for the first time since the 2015 season, got eight kills each from freshman Annie Lewis and freshman Nicole Groiss. 

“They have great athletes and run a very fast offense,” NIC coach Drew Pascua said. “We knew we had to be great behind the service line and patient with our offensive options to keep them out of rhythm.”

Morgan Claus, a sophomore from Moscow High, had seven kills for NIC (6-7), which travels to Colorado Northwestern on Friday. 

CSI is 5-11.

• WOMEN'S SOCCER

Salt Lake 3 

North Idaho 1 

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Sophomore Meg Haycock of Spanish Fork, Utah, scored in the 20th minute for the Cardinals, who led 1-0 at halftime before falling to the seventh-ranked Bruins in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Bruin Field. 

Salt Lake (8-1, 6-1 SWAC) rallied with three goals in a span of four minutes in the second half. 

NIC (4-5-1, 3-4) travels to Pacific Northwest Christian of Kennewick, Wash., next Saturday in SWAC play.

First half — 1, NIC, Meg Haycock (unassisted), 20:45. Second half — 2, SLCC, Nao Yamada (unassisted), 58:20. 3, SLCC, Reika Yuba (unassisted), 60:03. 4, SLCC, Whitney Garn (Yuba), 62:49. 

Shots on goal — NIC 3, SLCC 12. 

Saves — NIC, Adryelle Willfert 9; SLCC, Elle Rafajko 2. 

    KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College freshman Annie Lewis gets up for a spike during Saturday's Scenic West Athletic Conference match against College of Southern Idaho at Christianson Gymnasium.