Cardinals stun No. 2 seed at nationals

Posted: Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 10:59:51 pm PST
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CHANDLER, Ariz. -- They might not know where Coeur d'Alene is on the map, but they do know where North Idaho College is on the bracket -- in the semifinals and the Cardinals can finish no worse than fourth in the nation.

No. 7-seeded North Idaho College scored three goals in the first 12 minutes and held on to stun No. 2 Navarro Community College from Corsicana, Texas, 3-2 in the opening round of the NJCAA tournament Thursday at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

"We came down here to show 'em we can play in North Idaho. They came in undefeated and I think Navarro (16-0-1) was looking past us. Now they know," Cardinal coach Dan Hogan said.

Former Lakeland High star Natalie Nichols scored the first national tournament goal in North Idaho history in the sixth minute.

Kylee Williamson, a sophomore striker from Spokane, made it 2-nil three minutes later and Nichols gave the Cardinals (13-5-2) a three-goal lead with a Williamson assist in the 12th minute.

"They were in complete and utter shock when they scored the third goal -- you could just see it," Nichols said. "I'm pretty sure we're the only team in the world that knew we could do this. We didn't go to the banquet last night, so no one knew a thing about us ... until now."

Williamson broke free wide, then drove it into the box to the near post and the defenders converged. She flicked it to Nichols, who had a little toe poke to give North Idaho the lead minutes into the first NJCAA tournament match in program history.

"Kylee set me up perfectly," Nichols said.

Cardinal freshman Lauren Linford returned the favor for Williamson, who made it a two-goal lead minutes later.

"We have a lot of combinations and usually the one with the assist does all the work," Williamson said. "Lo and I had a give-and-go, and I just poked it in.

"To go up three goals in the first 12 minutes made me nervous. Usually we're a a second-half team, but it did take some of the pressure off and I haven't stopped smiling since."

Navarro, making its fifth consecutive NJCAA appearance, got on the board with an Enicia Reid goal in the 17th minute. Reid made it a one-goal difference in the 56th.

"We changed our tactics in the second half and man-marked Reid," Hogan said. "She did get loose, but I thought we did a great job defensively with the lead."

North Idaho plays No. 3-seeded Lewis and Clark Community College (24-1) from Godfrey, Ill., today in the semifinals. Lewis and Clark d. Monroe (N.Y.) 4-1. The winner will advance to Sunday's championship match.

"We just have to come out tough and hit the girls first and make sure they know we're here to play," Nichols said. "We're not here just to make memories, we came here to win."

First half -- 1, NIC, Natalie Nichols (Kylee Williamson), 6:00. 2, NIC, Kylee Williamson (Lauren Linford), 9:00. 3, NIC, Natalie Nichols (Kylee Williamson), 17:00. 4, Nav, Enicia Reid (Courtney Cooper), 17:00. Second half -- 5, Nav, Enicia Reid (Courtney Cooper), 56:00.

Shots on goal -- NIC 8, Nav 8.

Saves -- NIC, Alicia Kahler, 5. Nav, Erika Taylor, 3.