North Idaho College secured a spot in the Region 18 men's soccer championship following a 1-0 semifinal victory over third-seeded Utah State-Eastern at Zions Bank Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. The second-seeded Cardinals, ranked 10th in the latest NJCAA poll, will face top-seeded Salt Lake Community College in the final match scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
Cardinals Secure Semifinal Victory
North Idaho's decisive victory in Herriman, Utah, came without the rain that had characterized a previous meeting between the two teams. Jabari Holtkamp, a freshman midfielder from Portsmouth, Va., scored the game's only goal in the 35th minute, assisted by sophomore Lennox Kern. The goal came during a match where the Cardinals recorded three shots on goal, while Utah State-Eastern recorded six.
Impact of Holtkamp's Goal
North Idaho coach Brad Williams noted that Holtkamp's performance was exactly what the team had been seeking. Holtkamp has become increasingly impactful throughout the season, according to Williams, who noted that the freshman has had several close calls before finding the net. The victory was also a testament to the team's offense overcoming a strong defensive performance by Utah State-Eastern's Xavier Peregrina, who has been named Keeper of the Week four times this season. The Cardinals' Taylor Corpron recorded six saves during the match to secure the win.
Stakes for the Championship
The championship match on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at 1 p.m. PDT carries significant implications for the NJCAA Championships. The winner of the Salt Lake versus North Idaho matchup will automatically qualify for the national tournament held Nov. 15-21 in Wichita, Kan. The runner-up will have the opportunity to compete for one of four at-large bids to the 12-team championship field, which is expected to be announced next week.
Salt Lake Advances Unbeaten
Salt Lake Community College enters the final with an undefeated record of 15-0-3. The Bruins secured their place in the championship following a 4-1 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Snow College on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. Salt Lake's offensive surge was led by Taylor Kogan, who scored twice in the first half, with goals in the first minute and the 38th minute.
Bruins Dominance in Semifinals
The Bruins' semifinal victory over Snow College was characterized by a dominant first half. Taylor Kogan's unassisted goal in the first minute set the tone, followed by a goal from Mekhi Haughton-Parris in the 12th minute and a strike from Michael Radomski in the 33rd minute. Kogan added his second goal in the 38th minute to extend the lead. Snow College's lone response came in the 63th minute of the second half.
Salt Lake Defensive and Roster Details
Defensively, Salt Lake relied on goalkeeper Ariel Martinez, who recorded five saves during the match, including a critical save on a penalty kick in the second half. The Bruins' roster remains highly diverse, with 16 of their 29 players hailing from outside the United States, including athletes from Canada, Brazil, Portugal, France, Bolivia, England, and Ghana.
Salt Lake's Season History
Salt Lake Community College has maintained a strong presence in the Scenic West Athletic Conference throughout the 2026 season. The Bruins began their campaign on Aug. 20, 2026, with a 3-0 win over No. 13 Arizona Western. Their season included a notable 3-0 victory over North Idaho College on Oct. 24, 2026, which marked the Cardinals' first loss of the season and secured the SWAC regular-season championship for Salt Lake.
