Men’s soccer can’t find goal against Columbia Basin

NIC men’s soccer lost 2-0 against Columbia Basin in their first game of the season Wednesday afternoon.

NIC’s Chris Meza battles a Columbia Basin player for possession. NIC, like much of the NWAC, has found trouble beating a tough Columbia Basin program that has compiled a 31-10-10 record over the past three seasons. The Cards’ last victory against Columbia Basin happened on October 18, 2017.

Traditionally NIC soccer competes during the fall semester with matches beginning in mid-August, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the start of the season to late March.

The Cards couldn’t quite keep up with last season’s NWAC East champion Columbia Basin and were outshot 16-8 with only three shots on goal.

First-year goalie Max Warnell racked up five saves in the contest. Warnell gave up one goal in the first period and another off a header from a corner kick in the second period.

NIC men’s soccer is now winless in home openers in each of the past four seasons, but in each of the last three seasons the Cards followed up with a victory in their next home appearance.

The Cards have a quick turnaround with their next match coming up against Whitworth University Saturday, April 3rd at 11 a.m. at home.

Fans attended the match under NIC’s newly released COVID-19 protocols, which for outdoor events asks fans to wear masks if six feet of physical distancing wasn’t possible.

All NIC home games are also live-streamed from the NIC Athletics YouTube page and are archived for viewing later.