Pieces don't fall in place for Memorial

The Memorial University Sea-Hawks men’s soccer team will miss the Atlantic University Sport playoffs after failing to collect a win against the Dalhousie Tigers at King George V Park in St. John’s this weekend.

Coach Scott Betts’ squad went into its final regular-season weekend series against the Tigers holding onto fourth place with 17 points, two points ahead of the UNB Varsity Reds, the Cape Breton Capers and  the University of Moncton Blue Eagles, who are hosting the upcoming AUS championship, However, after a 2-0 loss to the Tigers on Saturday and a 1-1 tie between the two teams Sunday, the Sea-Hawks were left in sixth place. Normally, that would be enough to make it to the playoff weekend, but MUN was eliminated because Moncton, as tourney host, is guaranteed a berth despite finishing seventh.

“For the most part, I was pleased with the effort the boys put in. I think a couple them felt the pressure of the fact we needed to win,” Betts said.

“It really depended on other results. If UPEI beat UNB, then all we needed was a tie. (Sunday), we tied and if Acadia had beaten Cape Breton, we would have been in.

However, the Capers beat the Axemen 5-1 and New Brunswick downed UPEI 1-0.

This is the fourth straight season the Sea-Hawks have failed to make the playoffs.

But Betts is encouraged by the improvements made by the team which finished with a 5-5-3 record this year after a disappointing 2009 campaign when they finished in last place with just one victory.

“I think it was an exciting season, we’re a very young team and there’s lots to build on there,” he said.

Sunday’s game was the last for fifth-year and team captain Andre Le.

Asked who might take on the role next season, Betts said Pope “is definitely a consideration” and that there are several young players who stepped up this year.

“We’ll put in a good winter, see if anyone steps forward and make the decision when it’s obvious to us.”

MUN WOMEN’S SOCCER

Memorial University’s women’s soccer team was in danger of finishing its 2010 AUS season without a win before collecting a 1-0 decision over the Dalhousie Tigers at King George V park on Saturday.

Third-year player Maxine Morris netted the game’s only goal at the 66-minute mark.

On Sunday, the Lady-Hawks (1-11-1)— who won’t be in the playoffs either — went back to their losing ways falling 2-0 to the Tigers.

Sunday’s game was the last for Memorial seniors Ashley Dawe, Leighanne Tobin, Sam Hansford, and likely the final for Alex White-Dzuro, who is also set to graduate in the spring.

koliver@thetelegram.com