NIC SOCCER: Cardinal play the long game, beat rival CSI

• MEN

JEROME — North Idaho College coach Brad Williams knew what to expect coming into the first rivalry matchup of the season against College of Southern Idaho on Thursday at Founders Park. 

The wait was one thing. 

The result was the other. 

Sophomores Ivan Leon and Fabian Arguello had goals in the first half for the Cardinals, who beat the Golden Eagles 2-1 in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match. 

“We had a lot of good chances on goal,” said Williams, whose team entered the match ranked 17th in this week’s NJCAA poll. “Leonardo (Andrejic) had a free kick that looked like it was going in, but their keeper got a finger on it at the last second. They played more of a long ball style, but we were able to control the play a lot of the time and connect a lot of passes.” 

NIC (5-0-1, 2-0 SWAC) travels to Truckee Meadows of Reno, Nev., on Saturday. 

“We wanted to come here and impose our game, even though we were playing away,” Williams said. “This is a difficult place to come get a win. It was a good battle.” 

CSI is 1-1, 1-1. 

First half — 1, NIC, Ivan Leon (Sebastiano Casini), 12:00. 2, NIC, Fabian Arguello (Rabi Helmand), 32:00. Second half — 3, CSI, Felipe Argento (Adria Lledo), 58:00. 

Shots on goal — NIC 11, CSI 4. 

Saves — NIC, Taylor Corpron 3; CSI, Lasse Brier 9.

• WOMEN

Southern Idaho 4 

North Idaho 2 

JEROME — Sophomore Hannah Rommes had a goal and assist for the Cardinals, who fell to the Golden Eagles in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Founders Park. 

“CSI is a good, well-rounded team,” NIC coach Luke Babson said. “They’ve got some players that are good with the ball and play with some pace. They're one of the better groups that we’ve faced and created some problems for us on the defensive side.” 

Lily Bole, a freshman from Post Falls High, had an assist in the second half for NIC (4-2-1, 1-1 SWAC), which travels to Truckee Meadows Community College of Reno, Nev., on Saturday. 

“We came out and had a good first 20 minutes, and the momentum shifted,” Babson said. “We gave up an own goal, and those don’t happen too often. We’ve just got to focus on playing more complete games and not getting rattled when momentum goes in their favor.” 

CSI is 3-0, 2-0. 

First half — 1, NIC, Madeline Cook (Hannah Rommes), 8:14. 2, CSI, own goal, 17:08. 3, CSI, Elektra Cresswell (unassisted), 24:03. 4, CSI, Abby Linderman (unassisted), 38:47. Second half — 5, CSI, Brielle Cooper (Bailee Collings), 63:47. 6, NIC, Rommes (Lily Bole), 81:28. 

Shots on goal — NIC 7, CSI 9. 

Saves — NIC, Brooklyn Sperry 5; CSI, Avery Charlesworth 5.