ByMICKEY PLACE

Panther hockey hopes took another big leap over the past weekend as the team played well in taking two from. the St.Francis Xavier team that had whomped us I twice in preseason ex— hibition play.It is much nicer to win when it really counts!

In the first game we took an early and dec— isive lead as Ted Kozab and Albert Roche scored unanswered goals in the first period and Kozab also scored the only counter in the second to make it 3-0. Avalino quez ' bid for .a. white— wash was foiled in the third as X managed to get one by him while Ron Carragher and Garth Ar— senault made the goal- judges light flash to end the game at 5-FI. Gamez was brilliant in the nets as we were out- shot 33-27.Carragher's score was an unusual and somewhat amusing one as the X goalkeeper left the protection of his crease in an attempt to smother a loose puck. Just as he got his glove on it, he was knocked sprawling by a Panther and, attempting to scram- ble back to protect his net, he arrived shortly after the puck was bat- ted in!

Sunday's game was a dif— ferent type of contest. X scored first and from then on the lead went to one and then to the oth- er. Following goals by Norman Beck, Albert Roche, Jeff Lantz, and Terry Mc— Kenna, we led 4—3 with but seconds to go. in the final frame when, in the usual last—ditch strat- 891’, X pulled their goalkeeper in favour of an extra forward and suc-‘

ceeded in tying “it up!

In the overtime, we thought, from their play, that X would have been (mite content to have the game end in a tie as they seemed to hang back to ensure the deadlock. However, their strategy backfired as Trevor Craw— ford took a long pass, streaked up right wing, and blasted a terrific slapshot over the shoul— der of their lunging goalkeeper, to give us

a satisfying 5—4 win.- This brings our league record to 5—3 and is a most encouraging devel—

opment for a team that

only a couple of weeks ago was in a low standing with a 1—3 statistic.We found our enjoyment of this victory sanewhat * frustrated,as we watched the action seated be— tween their sub—goalie ("why,oh why did I leave that net?")and their assistant coach. . .both very nice fellows, so we. felt it only proper that we should be some- what restrained in our enthusiasm. You would not believe the number of statistics they keep in a gamelAs far as we are concerned, the only stat that really matters is the number of times the puck goes into the net. . .after that figure is determined, for all practical purposes, you can stop counting! . . The team goes to Acadia this weekend for two _ (that we should win) ,and then plays at Mount All-

ison on 30 November and at Moncton on 5 December. They will not play at home until 7 and 8 Jan-

uary. Our volleyball team lost to Dalhousie and Acadia in straight sets but won

.61.» Dori.§Ma<:Ehee. Cindy Doyle and DOr‘a Enman all participated in the scor—

a soueaker with Mount Allison 9—15, 15-7, IS— IO, 9-15, and then pulled out the match with a IS— 8 score. They play the ladies from St.F.X. here this Friday and Saturday. The Lady Panther basket— ball team trimmed the L'.de Moncton cuintet in an exhibition game in our gym on Sunday with a 59—4I score. Colleen Rossiter led our scorers with I7, while Sue Betts was runner—up with I2. Coach George Morrison used his bench extensive— ly.Ann Marie McInnis, Donna Noonan, Karen Row—

ing. This win brings

our pre—season record to 4-2 and should be very encouraging, as they face a road trip to open their league season with games at St.F.X. and St.Mary's. They will be at home next Wednesday against Mt.A. Our basketball Panthers took another long trek into foreign fields and the wilds of Maine to win two from the U. of Maine at Presque Isle. We won the first in a close game(74-70) with Aion Pettigrenl leading our boys with 22. In the second game, on Sunday, the Panthers went into high gear and ran up a 104—58 win, as Curtis Brown scored a sensation— al 38 points. These games conclude our very succes-

ful exhibition series and we assume they will be

in tip—top shape for our A.U.A.A. opener against St.F.X. on Friday at 8:00. This is the team that just beat us out in the AUAA semi—finals in Hal— ifax last spring, so a win is very important for us.

Basketball—starved fans will be pleased to know that we'll also have games in the gym on Wed— nesday when Mount A. will visit us. ..the woman's game at 6:00 and the gents, at 8:00. The long winter won't seen near— ly as cold and bleak if we have a streak of wins to warm us up so get out and cheer our teams on! More noise, please! ! !!