ONTARIO, Ore. - Former Lake City midfielder Alec Johnson scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute of North Idaho College's 4-1 win against the Treasure Valley Chukars in Northwest Athletic Conference on Wednesday.

Johnson headed the ball into the back of the net, on a corner kick by Hamidou Kante early in the second half for a 2-1 lead for the Cardinals (13-1-2, 11-1-1 NWAC, 34 points).

"Alec's head was about eight inches above every defender," NIC coach Ken Thompson said.

Adam Talley scored two goals, including the first one of the game in the 16th minute. Talley started in the back, played it out wide to Braden Ridgewell, who beat his defender to corner. Ridgewell passed the ball to Johnson, who one-touched a ball to Talley for the assist against the Chukars (5-11-1, 3-9-1, 25 points).

"It was a beautiful play, a good clean finish," Thompson said. "We got an early goal, played like we were going to win, they tied it, then we put it away. It was harder than it should've been, but we got the win."

NIC plays Saturday at home against Wenatchee Valley (10-2-3, 9-2-2, 29 points ), which is second in the East.

With a win Saturday, NIC will clinch the division, and host a playoff game on Nov. 8.

First half - 1, NIC, Adam Talley (Alec Johnson), 16:00. 2, TV, Diego Diaz Sanchez (Sidronio Rangel), 45:00. Second half - 3, NIC, Johnson (Hamidou Kante), 54:00. 4, NIC, Talley (Kante), 58:00. 5, NIC, Braden Ridgewell (unassisted), 65:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 13, TV 8.

Saves - NIC, Mitch Markovetz, 3, Robert Powels, 2. TV, Mauricio Huerta, 6.

North Idaho 0

Treasure Valley 0

ONTARIO, Ore. - The Cardinals and Chukars played to a scoreless draw in a Northwest Athletic Conference East Division match.

With the draw, Spokane (18-2-1, 14-1-1 NWAC, 43 points) clinched the East Division and will host a quarterfinal game in the conference playoffs.

"We started very slow trying to get our legs back from the 7-hour bus ride the night before, and that is when Treasure Valley got most of their shots," NIC coach Dan Hogan said. "By the start of the second half, we had more of the possession and we created several good chances that with a better finish, would have given us a goal."

NIC (8-2-8, 7-2-7, 29 points) hosts Wenatchee Valley on Saturday at noon at Eisenwinter Field.

Treasure Valley is 13-3-3, 10-3-3, 33 points.

First half - none. Second half - none.

Shots on goal - NIC 6, TVCC 9.

Saves - NIC, Cassy van der May, 4; TVCC, Tessa Pitzer, 5.