La Junta, Colo. – After picking up its first-ever postseason win in the NJCAA Oct. 25 against Northwest College with a 2-1 score, the North Idaho College men’s soccer team lost 2-0 to Laramie County Community College the next day in the Region 9 semifinals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Tanner Jones collected ten saves against Laramie County.
“After the first third of the season, he (Jones) became that guy,” Thompson said. “Every team has a goalkeeper that comes up big two or three times a game, and he definitely did that this year.”
Laramie County’s Dennis Vivar-Dias scored in the 29th minute to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0 at the half. Then, Jesse Molina scored a goal in the 56th minute off of a corner kick by Domey Espinoza.
“All of their attacking players were good when one-on-one,” Thompson said.
In the quarterfinals, the Cardinals defeated Northwest College for the third time this season.
“You play a team that tight three times a year, it’s unusual you win three times,” Thompson said.
The Cardinals beat the Trappers 3-2 in overtime Aug. 25 in Powell, Wyo., and later won 2-1 Sept. 1 at NIC.
“In general, I think we’ve come out on top (the three times NIC’s played Northwest) because we are more athletic and have more firepower up top,” Thompson said. “What makes them so tough to beat is they have talent in the right parts of the field.”
This time, the game carried into overtime when freshman forward Adam Talley scored the game winner. Christian Botuli put the Cardinals on the scoreboard first with a free kick in the 39th minute. Will Moats tied the game 36 seconds into the second half before Talley scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
“Late in the game, they get physical if things don’t go their way,” Thompson said.
Thompson said two of his players, T.J. Merwin and Alec Johnson, were bleeding from cleat marks at one point in the game.
The Cardinals finished 11-6-2, Thompson’s best record at NIC as a head coach.