• WOMEN’S SOCCER

COEUR d’ALENE — The conditions were so awful, that the men, scheduled to play after the women, didn’t even get a chance at kickoff.

But through the rain, mud and standing water, it was the visiting Community Colleges of Spokane women who found a way to clinch the East Region title and a first-round bye in the Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs.

Erica Simpson — a former Post Falls High standout — recorded a hat trick for the Sasquatch in a 3-1 win against North Idaho College on Wednesday in an NWAC match at Eisenwinter Field.

“We knew it was going to be bad out here,” Spokane coach Jim Martinson said. “We didn’t have a set gameplan, and were just going to figure out the gameplan when we got here. But we knew we were going to have to get at them. We had to deal with a lot of mud, but it was what it was. Erica, who was from this area, has missed every NIC game, she was hungry and went out and did what she wanted to do.”

Simpson, returning from injury two weeks ago, was named the conference’s player of the week this week, scoring five goals in the team’s matches last week against Wenatchee Valley and Treasure Valley.

“She’s been a rock star for us,” said Martinson of Simpson. “We hope this continues and we’ll see. Everyone is good in the postseason and we’ll have to see where it goes.”

Spokane (16-4-0, 12-0-1 NWAC) opened a 2-0 lead at the half with Simpson scoring on goals in the 29th and 34th minute.

“The first two goals, one came when someone slipped trying to clear the ball,” NIC coach Dan Hogan said. “And the other was when a mess of people were trying to get to it. This type of weather-type of goals. They’re ugly, and that happens sometimes. It’s definitely not the style we like to play, as we like to knock it around with a little shorter passes, but it fits better for how Spokane plays.”

NIC (12-2-2, 10-1-2) cut the deficit to 2-1 after a shot by Meg Lowery deflected through the mud to Emily Aspden, who sent it past the goalkeeper in the 71st minute.

“Meg Lowery tried a shot, mishit it, and it went right to Emily,” Hogan said. “But the setup was really good and what we wanted to do.”

NIC will host the No. 3 team from the South Region next Wednesday at Eisenwinter Field to open the NWAC playoffs.

“I think the girls hopefully learned a lot about themselves and their willingness to fight,” Hogan said. “Even though we were down two goals, we fought back and then they had their late goal. Getting into the playoff scenerios, it’s really good. You’ve got to understand that about your own character. I think we’re in good shape going forward.”

First half — 1, CCS, Erica Simpson (unassisted), 29:00. 2, CCS, Simpson (Cali Moscrip), 34:00. Second half — 3, NIC, Emily Aspden (Meg Lowery), 71:00. 4, CCS, Simpson (Anisha Nicholson), 84:00.

Shots on goal — CCS 9, NIC 3.

Saves — CCS, Molly Webster 3; NIC, Tiegan Horton 5.

• VOLLEYBALL

North Idaho d.

Blue Mountain

PENDLETON, Ore. — Halle Hess had 19 kills, Brooke Bell and Kelsie Murray 16 kills each for the Cardinals in a 30-32, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12 win over the Timberwolves in a Northwest Athletic Conference match.

“It was a great game,” NIC coach Kelsey Stanley said. “Each game was intense and the girls played very well. Blue Mountain took it to us, but we were able to bounce back after the games we’d lost and push back.”

Hess had 21 digs, Zuri Meehan 22 digs, Brittany Gay 64 assists and Bell five blocks for NIC (16-11, 11-2 NWAC), which hosts the Community Colleges of Spokane on Friday at 6 p.m. at Christianson Gym.

Jordan Mix had 14 kills for Blue Mountain (17-15, 6-5).

• MEN’S SOCCER

CC Spokane at

North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — Wednesday’s Northwest Athletic Conference match was postponed after officials deemed the playing surface unsafe at Eisenwinter Field.

The teams will meet today at 4 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College.