NIC SOCCER: Cardinal men play to draw, pin SWAC title hopes on match with Salt Lake

• MEN

PRICE, Utah — The goal is a lot more clear for the eighth-ranked North Idaho College men's soccer team after Thursday's 2-2 Scenic West Athletic Conference draw with Utah State-Eastern at Castleview Hospital Soccer Field. 

Win — or draw — and play the Region 18 tournament at home. 

Lose, and it's back to Utah next week. 

Freshman Jabari Holtkamp and sophomore Ivan Leon scored goals for the Cardinals, who allowed two second-half goals to Noah Heil of Utah State-Eastern. 

"We were up 2-0 and threw away the lead," NIC coach Brad Williams said. "We made some errors, and they scored." 

The match was moved up three hours due to a threat of lightning in the area. 

"We played as well as we could, but with it raining the entire match, it made it difficult," Williams said. "It's really our own fault." 

NIC (15-0-3, 11-0-2 SWAC) faces fourth-ranked Salt Lake (13-0-3, 10-0-3) on Saturday. NIC leads Salt Lake by three points for the conference lead. Should the teams play to a draw, NIC will clinch the conference title and host the Region 18 Championships on Oct. 29 and 31.

If Salt Lake wins, the tournaments will be on its home field in Herriman, Utah. 

NIC and Salt Lake played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 26 in Worley, a match marred by a post-game brawl. 

"The job's not done yet," Williams said. "We've still got 90 minutes, but things are in our hands." 

First half — 1, NIC, Jabari Holtkamp (Lennox Kern), 34:23. Second half — 2, NIC, Ivan Leon (unassisted), 57:03. 3, USUE, Noah Heil (Mac Jensen), 71:14. 4, USUE, Hail (Owen Klingonsmith), 75:46. 

Shots on goal — NIC 4, USUE 6. 

Saves — NIC, Nathan Gutierrez 3; USUE, Xavier Peregrina 2. 

• WOMEN

Utah State-Eastern 3 

North Idaho 0 

PRICE, Utah — The 17th-ranked Eagles (10-5-2, 8-3-2 SWAC) knocked the Cardinals (10-5-3, 7-4-2) out of the fourth and final playoff spot with a Scenic West Athletic Conference win at Castleview Hospital Soccer Field. 

On Saturday, in the regular season finale, NIC travels to 12th-ranked Salt Lake needing a win and Utah State-Eastern home loss to winless Pacific Northwest Christian to advance to the Region 18 Tournament. 

First half — 1, USUE, Rachel Enslow (unassisted), 22:13. Second half — 2, USUE, Mylie Louder (Ellyse Kessler), 61:34. 3, USUE, Paisley Ainsworth (Mia Pickering), 66:51. 

Shots on goal — NIC 6, USUE 8. 

Saves — NIC, Brooklyn Sperry 5; USUE, Haygen Haycock 6.