FINAL SCORE:  Columbia Basin 4  North Idaho 2


Columbia Basin defeated North Idaho 4-2 in another chippy game against the Cardinals that resulted in 3 Yellows and 2 Reds in the game. CBC opened up the scoring first with Alan Barragan putting away a cross from Johnny Ramirez in the 15th minute. North Idaho responded with an equalizer just 2 minutes later off a rebounded shot that was deflected by CBC keeper Daniel Puga. 

The highlight of day came in the 29th minute when freshman Zinedine Moreno took a pass from 35 yards out and fired a lazer in the upper corner of the net by the NIC keeper to push CBC back ahead 2-1. Once again though, NIC came down on a challenge and defender Alejandro Vega went to challenge a pass but committed a foul that resulted in a converted PK by NIC to tie it back up at 2-2 headed into half time.

Barragan struck again in the 62nd minute off a cross from Jose Botello who entered the game just 1 minute prior. As the game wore on, CBC looked to be continually frustrated by the officiating on the field as Moreno picked up a Yelllow Card on a hard challenge.The Hawk bench were demonstrably frustrated as NIC seemed to get key calls. Barragan continued to be in the right place at the right time again finding a cross from Raymundo Mendez in the 65th minute for the final goal of the game.

As the half wore down and tensions rose, a few scrums broke out that saw Raymundo Curiel shown a Red Card and sent off for a collision that sent an NIC player to the ground. NIC continued to instigate confrontations and were eventually punished with 2 Yellows and a Red Card as forward Braden Bennett collided with Puga in goal for the 4th time on the day that instigated shoving between both teams.

After the dust had settled, CBC emerged with the 4-2 convincing win to take control of 1st place in the East Region at 5-0 (6-3 overall). Like the women, they will receive their first road test next week as they travel to Wenatchee Valley who notoriously plays CBC to the wire in Wenatchee. They will then travel to Spokane on Saturday for a rematch of their 3-0 win at home earlier in the month.