Men’s soccer loses final home game, regroups with two road wins

The North Idaho College men’s soccer team lost 3-0 to then sixteenth-ranked Dakota County Technical College in their last home game of the season Oct. 11.

The hometown crowd was ready for NIC to take the lead as the Cardinals played aggressively the entire game. But Dakota’s defense just wouldn’t let up enough for NIC to get points on the board.

“I don’t think the score fairly reflected the game played today,” NIC head coach Ken Thompson said. “The upside is, that’s the best team we played in a month.”

As the Cardinals kept creating goal opportunities, Dakota kept extinguishing them, but not without some very close calls by sophomore John Ray, who manipulated the defense by spreading out uncanny defenders and getting some shots off.

“Even after these losses, we’re still in a good position,” Ray said. “We worked really hard all season and we can afford a couple losses.”

NIC created many scoring opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize on them.

The Cardinals finished the season strong on the road, however.

NIC beat Edmonds Community College 4-1 Oct. 16 and defeated Highline Community College 2-1 Oct. 17.

The Cardinals will compete in the Region 9 Tournament, which takes place Friday through Sunday in La Junta, Colo.