Inconsistency continues to plague men’s hockey season

Men’s hockey are coming home empty-handed after suffering losses to the McGill Redmen and Concordia Stingers over the weekend.

Although the Gaels came into their Montreal-based doubleheader riding a wave of confidence — they’ve won seven of their last eight games — the team looked like a shell of itself  during Friday’s 3-0 loss to the nationally-ranked Redmen. After being outshot 15-6 in the first period, Queen’s couldn’t get themselves back in the game. In the second and third periods, the Gaels committed three penalties and conceded three goals in defeat. It was the first time the Gaels had been shutout this season and their 18 shots on offense were a season-low.

Unfortunately for Queen’s, the Gaels’ play against Concordia wasn’t much better. After falling down 2-0 by the end of the first period, goals by Eric Ming and Alex Row in the second frame had the game tied going into the final period of hockey. Here, the nationally-ranked eighth Stingers proved too much for the visitors. Concordia would net a pair of goals late in the game, eventually taking it by a narrow 4-2 margin.

Queen’s has a quick turnaround this week as they look to get back in the win column on Wednesday night against RMC.

Women’s volleyball splits weekend doubleheader, remain second in OUA East

Despite splitting their weekend series, women’s volleyball remain second in the OUA East. Photo: Julia Balakrishnan

After gaining a comfortable 2-0 lead against the York Lions on Friday, it seemed as if Queen’s would cruise to victory. But sports are never that simple. In the battle for second in the OUA East, the Lions clawed their way back into the game, winning three consecutive sets to edge out a 3-2 win. Over the five sets, the Gaels had 26 errors, 16 of which were in the game’s final two sets. Following their loss, the Lions jumped over the Gaels in the OUA standings with 14 points.

Despite not playing their best on Friday night in Toronto, Queen’s found their bearings the next night against the Nipissing Lakers. The Gaels took the game handily in straight sets, winning 3-0 and committing just 16 errors.

The women improved to 7-3 on the season and retained control of their second place standing in the OUA East. In their next game, they play host to Trent — the only winless team in the conference — on Friday.

Men’s volleyball drop weekend series

Men’s volleyball have dropped below .500 for the first time this season. Photo: Julia Balakrishnan

For the first time this year, the men’s volleyball team fell below .500 after losses to the York Lions and Nipissing Lakers.

Much like the women’s team, the Gaels lost to York by a tight 3-2 margin. But despite keeping it close with the OUA’s top-ranked Lions, the Gaels didn’t take anything positive from the match to Saturday’s game against Nipissing. Queen’s couldn’t pull away after the score was tied at 1-1, with the Lakers taking the game 3-1.

The Gaels are now on a four-game losing streak and have dropped to fifth in the OUA East with a 4-5 record.