The NIC men’s soccer team (4-5-3) tied the visiting Gonzaga Bulldogs’ club team 0-0 Friday at NIC.
Despite the lack of scoring, both teams had offensive opportunities from the start.
Cardinal sophomore Louis Williams had back-to-back shots blocked by the Bulldogs’ goalie.
Gonzaga responded with a header right into the hands of NIC sophomore goalie Justin Johnson.
With 30 seconds left, the Cardinals had one last chance before the half, powering a shot that was defended by the diving Bulldogs goalie.
Five minutes into the second half, Gonzaga seemingly broke the tie with a goal past the outstretched hands of Johnson. However, a late whistle called it off; the Bulldogs were penalized with off-sides, nullifying the goal.
NIC had another scare when freshman Robert Wilson took a kick right to the knee, resulting in a yellow card for the Bulldogs. Wilson was helped off the field, and did not return to the game.
Each team continued to have shots on goal, but both Cardinal and Bulldog goalies continued to save them.
“We are creating quality opportunities,” head coach Ken Thompson said. “It’s just a matter of making that last pass, setting up that open man.”
About a week earlier, NIC tied the University of Idaho Vandals’ club team 3-3 at NIC.
The Vandals got off to a strong start scoring three unanswered points against the Cardinals.
Wilson later scored to put NIC on the scoreboard at the 38th minute to end the first half with a 3-1 Vandals advantage.
Logan Tooley scored NIC’s second goal in the 52nd minute of the game.
Then, as a result of the Vandals’ aggressiveness in the goalie box, the Cardinals were awarded a penalty kick in which Tooley scored to tie the game 3-3 in the 56th minute.
“If you would’ve told me we were going to tie the game, I would’ve been disappointed,” Thompson said. “If you would’ve told me we were going to tie the game being down 3-1 at half, I would be happy.”
“We missed opportunities to put the game away in the last 30 minutes of the game,” Thompson said. “If you look at how we played in the second half, you wonder why we can’t play like that all the time.”
The Cardinals hope to break their two-game tying streak with a win in Salt Lake City Friday against the Salt Lake Community College Bruins.
