NIC SOCCER: Ninth-ranked Cardinal men shut out Snow

• MEN

EPHRAIM, Utah — Tom Renner, a freshman from Frankfurt, Germany, scored an unassisted goal in the 57th minute for ninth-ranked North Idaho College in a 1-0 win over 13th ranked Snow College in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match on Thursday. 

“He had a couple of chances that he’d missed on in the first half,” NIC coach Brad Williams said. “We told him at halftime to just keep shooting and he finally got one. I was really happy to see our guys grind out a performance like that. Snow’s a tough team to play and to get that win was huge to keep the momentum going.” 

Nathan Gutierrez, a freshman from Lake Worth, Fla., had seven saves for NIC (12-0-2, 8-0-1), which was without Berkan Kuepelikilinc, Rabi Helmand, Israel Joseph, Lennox Kern and Caden Pennock, who were each suspended two games for their roles in a postgame fight with Salt Lake Community College on Sept. 26 in Worley.  

“Nathan made some incredible saves,” Williams said. “We lost our bearings a little bit in the first 15 to 20 minutes, and he really kept us going.” 

Andrea DiMarcello returned from a one-game suspension. Those suspended players are eligible to return for Saturday’s match at Colorado Northwestern in Rangely, Colo. 

Snow is 6-5-2, 5-3-1. 

First half — none. Second half — 1, NIC, Tom Renner (unassisted), 57:08. 

Shots on goal — NIC 2, Snow 7. 

Saves — NIC, Nathan Gutierrez 7; Snow, Kahler Speyer 1. 

• WOMEN

Snow 2 

North Idaho 0 

EPHRAIM, Utah — The visiting Cardinals allowed two second-half goals in a Scenic West Athletic Conference loss to the 15th-ranked Badgers. 

NIC lost starting goalkeeper Kenadie Mashore to an injury eight minutes into the match, with freshman Brooklyn Sperry playing the rest of the way. 

“We’re confident with both keepers out there,” NIC coach Luke Babson said. “Brooklyn’s had a really good season and neither has had a bad miscue. We’re good enough to grind out a tie or win against good teams, but Snow has a lot of ways it can get a win. They just came up with some moments they capitalized on.” 

NIC (7-4-3, 4-3-3 SWAC), currently tied for fourth in the conference with Utah State-Eastern (6-5-2, 4-3-2), travels to Colorado Northwestern on Saturday. 

Snow (7-2-2, 7-0-2) has won five straight and is currently second in the conference. 

First half — 1, Snow, Hallie Hansen (unassisted), 64:21. 2, Snow, Carly Knudsen (Jolee Irvin), 71:03.  

Shots on goal — NIC 2, Snow 9. 

Saves — NIC, Brooklyn Sperry 6, Kenadie Mashore 1; Snow, Tess Peterson 2.