NIC’s new soccer league could be SWAC in 2005

North Idaho College’s soccer programs appear to have found a long-range home. The Scenic West Athletic Conference, home to NIC’s basketball, volleyball and softball programs, is planning a fall 2005 start-up for soccer.

NIC’s associate member status in the NWAACC was eliminated by vote of the NWAACC executive board in June. This will be the Cardinals’ last season in the NWAACC.

“The SWAC should be a viable league,” said Dan Hogan, who coaches NIC’s men’s and women’s teams. “We’re putting together tentative schedules right now. We want to play everyone twice, so that would be 10 games for the men and 12 for the women. I think NWAACC schools close to us will be willing to play us in non-conference games.”

SWAC men’s and women’s programs would be NIC, Dixie, Southern Nevada, Salt Lake, Snow and Eastern Utah. Western Nevada would give the SWAC seven women’s teams. Colorado Mountain College, already an NJCAA member, is another possibility, said NIC athletic director Al Williams, chairman of SWAC soccer.

Dixie’s women, the defending NJCAA champions, are ranked No. 2 in the most recent poll. Several teams already have existing club programs, Williams said. The SWAC would have a region tournament and the winner would probably face a playoff game against Region I (Arizona) for a berth to nationals.

“We needed a league and (SWAC schools) came to our aid,” Williams said. “I think we could have got it done last year, but with the extra year it gave some of them a chance to get their clubs up and running.”

The NWAACC doesn’t participate in national competition.

“It’s always a (recruiting) plus to be able to say we could possibly play for a national championship,” Hogan said. “The other difference is the ability to award 18 full tuition and fees scholarships as opposed to eight partial tuition and fees scholarships” under NWAACC rules.

Cougars milestones

Washington State’s women had a huge weekend, knocking off No. 8 UCLA and No. 22 USC for the first time in the same season.

The win over UCLA was just the second time the Bruins have ever lost to WSU. Before Friday, the Cougars’ lone win came in the series opener in 1993. UCLA is the highest ranked opponent WSU has defeated since knocking off No. 2 Washington in 2000. The victory looks even more impressive considering that UCLA throttled No. 7 Washington 5-1 in Seattle on Sunday to stay in a tie for first with Arizona.

WSU’s 2-0 win over USC on Sunday was only the second time the Cougars have blanked the Trojans and just their third victory in the series.

“Against quality teams you’re going to get opportunities and you have to take those opportunities,” WSU coach Matt Potter said. “In both games when those opportunities presented themselves we were clinical. The other side of it was defending well together. It pleases me because we achieved at both ends.”

The Cougars are 3-1-1 at home against ranked foes this season.

WSU visits last-place Oregon (0-3-0) on Friday and ninth-place Oregon State (1-2-0) on Sunday before finishing with home matches against Washington, Cal and Stanford.

“There are no easy matches in the Pac-10 and this weekend’s road trip will be as tough as any we face,” Potter said. “The Oregon schools are fighting for the same things we want. But to have three home games to finish the season will be nice.”

Throw-ins

Gonzaga men’s coach Einar Thorarinsson, who suffered a broken jaw and other facial injuries in a bicycle/car accident more than two weeks ago in Southern California, continues to recuperate at home. His return date hasn’t been set. Thorarinsson is expected to make a full recovery. Assistants Mike Thompson and Mike McCarthy are serving as co-coaches… . The Whitworth men (7-1-1, 22 points) and women (9-1-1, 28 points) remain in first place in the Northwest Conference standings. The Pirates entertain Willamette on Friday and Linfield on Saturday. Linfield’s men (6-2-1, 19 points) are tied for second with Puget Sound. Whitworth’s women are one point ahead of Puget Sound (9-1)… . Eastern Washington picked the right time to get hot. After a 3-7-1 non-conference and an 0-3-1 stretch leading into conference play, the Eagles are 2-0-1 in the Big Sky. They’re tied with Montana for second place. EWU entertains Northern Arizona (1-1) on Friday before finishing the regular season at Portland State (2-0) on Oct. 29, and Sacramento State (0-2) on Oct. 31… . Montana, at 6-5-2, is the only Big Sky team with a winning overall record… . With Sunday’s win over No. 20 Pepperdine, Gonzaga’s women defeated a ranked opponent for the second time in two years. GU also knocked off a ranked Pepperdine squad last season… . Idaho’s win over Long Beach State was just its second Big West victory in the last three years.