* MEN'S SOCCER

COEUR d'ALENE - Christian Botuli scored on a feed from Adam Talley in the 73rd minute, lifting North Idaho College to a 3-all tie with Chemeketa Community College of Salem, Ore., on Friday on the first day of the Cardinal Classic at NIC's Eisenwinter Field.

Rodger Bucknor scored two goals for NIC (2-0-1), which has given up six goals in three games.

"We don't have a ton of experience in the back," said Cardinals coach Ken Thompson, who has moved some offensive players to midfield and to the defense. "We're expecting some mistakes in the back, but we're willing to put up with them, because there's a lot of upside in the future. It just gives you a more well-rounded attack."

NIC plays Northwest College on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. to conclude tourney play.

First half - 1, Chem, Wyatt Brown (Armondo Guevara), 15:00. 2, NIC, Rodger Bucknor (Lucas Zirotti), 25:00. Second half - 3, Chem, David Guerrero (Brown), 63:00. 4, NIC, Bucknor (Jesse Bostrom), 67:00. 5, Chem, Caleb Buzzas (Brown), 70:00. 6, NIC, Christian Botuli (Adam Talley), 73:00.

Shots on goal - Chem 10, NIC 10.

Saves - Chem, Martin Sanchez 3; NIC, Tanner Jones 7.

* WOMEN'S SOCCER

N'west Nazarene 1

North Idaho 0

COEUR d'ALENE - Kayla Williams' goal on a 35-yard shot from outside the right corner of the penalty area in the 27th minute showed up as the Crusaders edged the Cardinals on the first day of the Cardinal Classic at Eisenwinter Field.

"It was disappointing to lose our home opener, even if we played an NCAA Division II school," NIC coach Dan Hogan. "We had a rough first half adjusting to NNU's speed of play and physicality. We played much better in the second half and the game got even more physical with a couple of yellow cards."

The best scoring chance from NIC (1-1-1) came on a free kick taken by Audrianna Woods which hit the left upper corner of the goal with about 10 minutes left in the game.

NIC plays Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., on Sunday at 10 a.m. to conclude tourney play.

First half - 1, NNU, Kayla Williams (unassisted), 27:00. Second half - none.

Shots on goal - NNU 19, NIC 8.

Saves - NNU, Monique Ray 1, Argia Phillips 3; NIC, Whittni Mundel 7, Alex Rodriguez 5.

* VOLLEYBALL

Cards open with

split at tourney

SALT LAKE CITY - Freshman Larissa Claassen had 13 kills, 12 digs and three aces for the North Idaho Cardinals, which lost to top-ranked Western Nebraska in five games to open the season at the Crystal Inn Invitational on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.

"When you get into it, that's a team we should have beat," NIC coach Miles Kydd said. "Our sophomores we expect to be good players for us struggled a little bit, so we switched the lineup and put some other kids in. We knew coming in they were the preseason No. 1 and we kind of backed off in that fifth game."

Anyssa Matheson had nine kills, Brittany Aldridge seven kills and 14 digs, and Russia Robinson had 25 digs for NIC against Western Nebraska.

Later, Maddi Seidl had 29 assists and 10 digs to lead NIC past Casper (Wyo.) College, ranked 19th in the poll, in three games.

Game scores for both matches were unavailable.

Robinson had 17 digs, Matheson nine kills and Claassen 21 digs for NIC (1-1), which concludes the tournament today by facing Scenic West Athletic Conference rival Utah State-Eastern, then playing Western Wyoming.