NIC ROUNDUP: Cardinal keep postseason hopes alive
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 2 months AGO
KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College freshman libero Eileen Schmidt (4) steps in front of teammate Nicole Gross (5) to return the ball during Thursday's Scenic West Athletic Conference against Snow College on Thursday at Christianson Gymnasium.
• MEN'S SOCCER
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Things got crowded, both on and off the field, for the North Idaho College men’s soccer team on Thursday.
And third-year NIC men’s soccer coach Brad Williams wouldn’t want it any other way.
Freshman Federico Bellisi scored on an unassisted goal in the 63rd minute for the Cardinals, who beat Scenic West Athletic Conference leading Salt Lake 1-0 on Thursday at Bruin Field, moving into a three-way tie for third-place in the conference with one match remaining.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Williams said. “Had we lost, it would have been a lot harder. Now, we’re only depending on ourselves, and our destiny is in our hands.”
NIC (12-5-1, 8-4-1 SWAC, 25 points) is tied with Southern Idaho (8-7-1, 8-4-1, 25 points) and Utah State-Eastern (9-4-2, 8-4-1, 25 points).
Salt Lake (9-3-4, 9-2-2), ranked 18th in the nation, hosts Pacific Northwest Christian on Saturday to conclude the regular season.
On Saturday, NIC plays at Colorado Northwestern (1-12-2, 1-10-1) and CSI plays Utah State-Eastern in Price, Utah.
First half — none. Second half — 1, NIC, Federico Bellisi (unassisted), 63:47.
Shots on goal — NIC 3, SLCC 3.
Saves — NIC, Ariel Martinez 3; SLCC, Jackson Medina 2.
• VOLLEYBALL
Snow d.
North Idaho
COEUR d’ALENE — Allie Ferrin, a sophomore from University High in Spokane, had 11 kills and nine digs for the Cardinals in a 25-19, 20-25, 25-15, 25-19 Scenic West Athletic Conference loss to the Badgers at Christianson Gymnasium.
NIC (14-11, 3-5 SWAC) is fifth in the conference with two matches remaining. Snow (10-12, 4-3) is third. The top four teams in the conference advance to the Region 18 Tournament Nov. 5-6 at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, Utah.
Sophomore Nicole Groiss had nine kills and nine digs, sophomore Rylie Dolven 17 assists and freshman Olivia Zazuetta, the former Lakeland High star, had 13 assists for NIC, which hosts Utah State-Eastern (15-7, 3-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
• WOMEN'S SOCCER
Salt Lake 4
North Idaho 0
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — The road to regionals ended for the Cardinals after a loss to the fourth-ranked Bruins in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Bruin Field.
Colorado Northwestern (9-6-1, 7-5-2 SWAC, 22 points), which hosts NIC (5-8-3, 5-6-2, 17 points) on Saturday, beat visiting Pacific Northwest Christian 8-0 in Rangely, Colo., in other conference play on Thursday, knocking the Cardinals out of the playoff hunt with one match remaining.
With the win, Salt Lake (13-1-2, 11-1-1) clinched the conference title and will host the Region 18 Tournament starting with the semifinals next Thursday. The championship match is Nov. 1.
First half — none. Second half — 1, SLCC, Sophie Eckery (unassisted), 54:39. 2, SLCC, Lila Millward (Natalie Shober), 64:35. 3, SLCC, Millward (Shober), 72:25. 4, SLCC, Shober (Seanna Harris), 73:34.
Shots on goal — NIC 3, SLCC 9.
Saves — NIC, Serena Hand 5; SLCC, Ella Rafajko 3.