MOSCOW - Eliseo Santana and Louis Williams gave North Idaho a cushion early, and the Cardinals went on to beat the University of Idaho club team 2-0 Sunday on the artificial turf practice field used by the Vandal football team to clinch a berth in the district playoffs in two weeks.

Santana converted a corner kick from Ruben Amezcua in the third minute for NIC (6-6-3), and Williams tapped in a cross from John Ray in the 16th minute.

"It makes all the difference in how you play those last minutes of the game," NIC coach Ken Thompson said of building an early lead.

Still, he reminded his team at halftime of a 1974 World Cup game where the Dutch scored in the first minute on a penalty kick, then were so confident they didn't need to score again that they passed the ball around the rest of the game, and wound up losing 2-1.

NIC needed to win the game to keep its season going. By reaching the .500 mark before Tuesday's cutoff point, NIC qualifies for the regional tournament, to be played at the winner of this weekend's District 9 tournament. NIC is idle until then.

First half - 1, NIC, Eliseo Santana (Ruben Amezcua), 3:00. 2, NIC, Louis Williams (John Ray), 16:00. Second half - none.

Shots on goal - NIC 11, UI 7.

Saves - NIC, Justin Johnson 4; UI, Adam Chadwick 7.

- WOMEN

North Idaho 2

WSU club 1

COEUR d'ALENE - Anna Valentine assisted on the first goal, then scored the eventual game-winner in the 79th minute for the Cardinals against the Washington State club team at Bill Eisenwinter Field.

On the go-ahead goal, Kellsi Parson split two defenders with a pass up the middle to Valentine. Valentine took a touch and sent a shot from 25 yards out into the upper left of the goal, just before a sliding WSU defender tackled her.

"We were a little sluggish today, but Anna Valentine showed the type of leader she is by working hard the entire game showing our freshmen what needs to be done when their play is a little off," NIC coach Dan Hogan said. "Valentine was all over the field helping defend as well as getting forward to create scoring chances for us."

Ellie Engel volleyed in a cross from Valentine for the first goal in the 10th minute. Hannah Slinkard, formerly of Post Falls High, made a diving save just before the end of the first half to keep the Cougars from getting a second goal.

NIC (9-3-1) closes out the regular season Saturday in Spokane vs. the Gonzaga club team, then heads to the district tournament in Cheyenne, Wyo., Nov. 2-3.

First half - 1, NIC, Ellie Engel (Anna Valentine), 9:39. 2, WSU, Roslyn Pontius (unassisted), 31:40. Second half - 3, Valentine (Kellsi Parson), 78:25.

Shots on goal - WSU 8, NIC 12.

Saves - WSU, Jordan Daskam 2, Andrea Kaeka 0. NIC, Whittni Mundel 3, Hannah Slinkard 2.