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NWC Trappers Hand NIC Rare Home Loss
The Northwest College women’s soccer team achieved a rarity last weekend when they posted a 2-0 victory over North Idaho College. It marked the first time North Idaho lost a regular- season game on its home field since August 2010.
“We played extremely well, especially across the back,” said Trapper women’s soccer coach Kaylin Olivas. “Kate Duffy, our keeper, made some big saves for us and our defenders played extremely strong.”
Overall, Northwest enjoyed a 17-10 advantage on shots in the contest. Lindsay Nieters got the scoring started for NWC with a goal in the 19th minute off an assist from Leeann Payne. The 1-0 margin lasted until intermission, but it didn’t take long for the Trappers to extend on that lead once the teams returned to play for the second half.
Once again, Nieters was in the thick of the action, this time playing a ball through to Samhia Simao. Simao connected on the shot in the 49th minute to extend the Trappers to a 2-0 cushion. From there, the defense took over.
“Kate made about three fantastic stops on balls that were on goal,” Olivas said. “The girls were very excited to beat them. It was our first win as a women’s program over North Idaho. Overall, we played extremely well.”
Unfortunately, the Trappers couldn’t carry that momentum into their contest the following day against Peninsula. After playing to a scoreless tie in the first half, the Trappers conceded back-to-back goals early in the second half, both coming off corner kicks.
“We just didn’t come out to play in the second half,” said Olivas. “We had two wide-open opportunities and put the ball straight at the keeper in both cases.”
Simao finally broke the ice for Northwest, scoring off a Payne feed in the 78th minute. Peninsula took advantage of an aggressive Northwest team looking to press the action late and scored twice in the waning minutes for a 4-1 final.
“Athletically, I think we were fairly even with Peninsula, but we didn’t play with the same fire we had against North Idaho,” Olivas said. “We played three good halves of soccer over the weekend. I like what I’m seeing. I’m pleased with where we’re at. There are lots of positives from the players.”
In men’s action, the Trappers began the weekend by falling 1-0 to North Idaho. The Trappers surrendered the game’s only goal in the 24th minute off a free kick that bounded off NWC’s goalkeeper and was then kicked in off his fingertips as he sprawled in an attempt to corral the loose ball.
Northwest reversed its fortunes in the second game of the weekend, posting a 2-1 victory over Peninsula. Goalie Cameron Stanek produced 13 stops in the contest for the Trappers.
The Trappers fell behind early as Peninsula cracked an early shot into net, but then played the final 70 minutes or so with a man advantage. A Peninsula player attempting a bicycle kick connected instead with one of the Trappers’ defenders, prompting an immediate red card ejection.
Moments later, Northwest pulled level as Sergio Rodriguez scored off an assist from Marcus Couldridge as the two defenders hooked up. The play was started by a Dean Johnson corner kick with Rodriguez’ shot come from roughly 20 yards out.
The score remained knotted at 1-1 until midway through the second half. That’s when freshman John Husar slotted a Dean Johnson through ball into net in the 62nd minute.
With the weekend splits, both the Trapper men’s team and the Trapper women’s team are 2-2 on the season. The teams play doubleheaders against North Idaho, starting at 3 p.m., Friday, and Salt Lake, starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday.