POWELL, Wyo. - Sophomore John Ray scored on an assist from Shane Stanley in the fifth minute and the North Idaho Cardinal men's soccer team tacked on two more goals in the first half, beating the Dodge City (Kan.) Conquistadors 3-1 in their season opener on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Northwest College.

The game was called in the 86th minute due to lightning in the area. NJCAA rules state that once a match reaches the 70th minute, it is considering a complete match, should it be called due to weather.

"The conditions were great until about 25 minutes left," NIC men's coach Ken Thompson said. "We could see it coming in the distance for the entire second half, then the wind started to pick up and you could hear the thunder and eventually sirens."

Thompson said a weather monitor had lightning within 6 miles from the field, causing both teams to run for cover.

"We heard the siren and started to run for cover," Thompson said. "We didn't get rained on much and the storm never really got closer."

Isaiah Van Voorhis and former Coeur d'Alene High standout Adam Garman had goals in the first half for NIC, which faces Northwest College today.

"It's great to start off 1-0," Thompson said. "Scoring five minutes in is always a good thing, but then we relaxed a little bit near the end of the first half and the second."

First half - 1, NIC, John Ray (Shane Stanley), 5:00. 2, NIC, Isaiah Van Voohris (Lucas Zirotti), 36:00. 3, NIC, Adam Garman (Alec Johnson), 40:00. Second half - 4, DCCC, name unavailable, 86:00.

Shots on goal - not available.

Saves - not available.

* WOMEN

North Idaho 7

Dodge City 3

POWELL, Wyo. - Tiffany Draper recorded a hat trick and Sandpoint native Meghan Pagano had a goal and an assist, leading the Cardinal women past the Conquistadors in their season opener at Northwest College.

"It was a good first match of the year," NIC women's coach Dan Hogan said. "The result was good, but from a coaching perspective, we made a bunch of mistakes, but were able to work through them and get the win. On two of Tiffany's goals, she was in the right place at the right time."

Jaimee Hulst scored two goals for NIC, which faces Northwest College today.

First half - 1, NIC, Tiffany Draper (unassisted), 4:00. 2, NIC, Meghan Pagano (Keilin Farrand), 8:00. 3, DCCC, Erica Ramos (unassisted), 11:00. 4, NIC, Farrand (unassisted), 16:00. 5, NIC, Draper (Emilee Cordon), 27:00. 6, DCCC, Laura Axe (Kayla Turner), 34:00. 7, NIC, Jaimee Hulst (unassisted), 45:00. Second half - 8, NIC, Draper (Pagano), 50:00. 9, DCCC, Ramos (unassisted), 67:00. 10, NIC, Hulst (unassisted), 79:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 18, DCCC 8.

Saves - NIC, Whittni Mundel 3, Alex Rodriguez 2; DCCC, Chenoa Banks 6.