REGION 18 MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: Cardinals fall in title game; hope for at-large bid to nationals

HERRIMAN, Utah — The mistakes are fixable. 

We'll see if North Idaho College gets that extra chance. 

NIC, ranked 10th in the latest NJCAA poll, fell to third-ranked Salt Lake 3-1 in the Region 18 men's soccer championship at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday. 

Salt Lake (16-0-3) earned Region 18's automatic berth to the NJCAA Championships, Nov. 15-21 in Wichita, Kan. 

NIC (16-2-3) could still advance to the 12-team nationals with an at-large bid, but will have to wait until the rest of regional play is finished and the selection committee chooses the four at-large teams next week.

"There's not a lot of teams with 16 wins and two losses," NIC coach Brad Williams said. "There's not a lot of them in the country, let alone the JUCO level. We're going to have to submit our case, but our only two losses came to the No. 2 and No. 3 team in the nation (Salt Lake). I'd hope we'd be considered after finishing in the top 12." 

NIC fell to Salt Lake 3-0 last Saturday in the regular season finale for both, giving the Bruins the right to host regionals. The teams also tied 1-1 on Sept. 26 in Worley. 

"We've been a little unlucky the last two weeks with some guys sick or injured," Williams said. "We weren't the same team we were at the start of the year. Hopefully with two weeks rest, we'll get those guys back healthy." 

"I'm proud of our group and the season we put together," Williams said. "I'm happy with the effort, but falling short doesn't feel good." 

First half — 1, SLCC, Alan Guzman (Abdou Dieng), 6:55. Second half — 2, SLCC, Mekhi Haughton-Parris (Guzman), 49:54. 3, SLCC, Matt Hagan (Taylor Kogan), 60:57. 4, NIC, Daniel Cortez (Noel Daehne), 82:06. 

Shots on goal — NIC 4, SLCC 5. 

Saves — NIC, Taylor Corpron 3; SLCC, Ariel Martinez 3. 

REGION 18 MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT

At Zions Bank Stadium

Herriman, Utah

Semifinals

Thursday's Games

Salt Lake 4, Snow 1

North Idaho 1, Utah State-Eastern 0

Championship

Saturday's Game

Salt Lake 3, North Idaho 1

REGION 18 WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT

At Zions Bank Stadium

Herriman, Utah

Semifinals

Thursday's Games

Salt Lake 2, Utah State-Eastern 0

Snow 5, Southern Idaho 1

Championship

Saturday's Game

Salt Lake 2, Snow 2, Salt Lake wins 4-2 on penalty kicks