Queen’s let an opportunity to move up the OUA standings slip through its grasp this week.

The Gaels (3-2-2) played to a 0-0 draw with the RMC Paladins (1-4-1) on Wednesday afternoon, earning just one of three possible points in a matchup traditionally regarded as an easy win.

Last season, Queen’s topped RMC 5-0 and 3-1, eventually winning the OUA East regular season championship by three points. This year, they’re mired in fourth, eight points back of the surging Ryerson Rams.

The Gaels’ defence slowed RMC’s anemic attack on Wednesday. The Paladins have mustered just one goal in their first six games of 2013; their tilt with Queen’s was the fifth consecutive time they’ve been blanked.

Queen’s keeper Dylan Maxwell turned aside all 11 shots he faced, posting his third clean sheet of the young season.

Paladins netminder Tobin Semple matched his counterpart save for save, stopping 13 Gaels attempts to hold them off the board.

The Gaels will look to avoid a similar fate at home tomorrow against the dismal Trent Excalibur (0-6-1). While they’ve managed two goals on the season, Trent has conceded 15 in seven matches.