Panthers drop another

UPEI men eliminated from AUS playoffs

The goal-scoring drought continued as the UPEI men’s soccer squad dropped its sixth straight game, this time a 3-0 defeat to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Atlantic University Sport action Sunday at UPEI.

The loss eliminated the Panthers from the playoffs and with three games remaining in the regular season, UPEI will be playing for pride.

Panthers head coach Lewis Page said a lack of firepower hindered the squad all season. Sunday, the offence generated just one shot on St. FX keeper William Venoit, who made the save for his third shutout of the season.

“It’s been the same story every game really this season,” Page said. “You can’t fault us for effort, but we just lack a little bit of quality in some areas that we just need to be better at. The stats usually don’t lie and in this case they didn’t.”

The X-Men drew first blood in the 36th minute on a penalty kick by striker Dan Hayfield. The Panthers had trouble finding the goal while St. FX gave the Panthers defence fits down both wings, getting in behind the back-line and sending crosses into the Panther penalty area.

It was 1-0 St. FX after the first half.

The second half was not much better for UPEI as X-Men striker Ben Herringer redirected a cross for the insurance marker in the 79th minute. A third goal by midfielder William Warren came 11 minutes later.

The Panthers (1-6-2) play road games Saturday in Acadia (6-3) and Sunday in Dalhousie (6-12), then close out the season at home Friday, Oct. 26, against Saint Mary’s (3-3-3).

On the women’s side Sunday, the Panthers (2-4-3) tied St. Francis Xavier 2-2 and remain in playoff contention with games versus Acadia (8-0-1), Dalhousie (5-3-1) and Saint Mary’s (4-4-1) remaining.

Lauren Clark and Danielle Younker netted UPEI’s goals. Amanda Smith and Kelsey Ellis countered for St. FX.

UPEI had a 2-0 first-half lead, but couldn’t hold it.