WAUKEE - The Class 2A top-ranked Xavier boys soccer team played shorthanded Saturday and suffered the consequences against a pair of ranked foes.

Xavier was beaten by Class 3A No. 7 Bettendorf, 3-0, then tied with Class 2A No. 13 Pella, 1-1, at the Waukee Invitational.

The Saints were missing eight players, including four starters who are still on their spring break trips. No other school participating was on a spring break.

Xavier Coach Amir Hadzic said the Saints played much better against Bettendorf than the final score showed. He said forwards missed many clear looks in that game.

Xavier next played Pella and fell behind early when Pella executed a counterattack for a goal. The Saints then peppered the opponent's goal in the second half, but all they could muster was an equalizer by Chad Gilmer on Caelen Lilly's assist.

The Saints open their conference season against Prairie on Tuesday evening.

Waukee Invitational
Waukee 7, Pella 2
Bettendorf 3, Xavier 0
Bettendorf 1, Waukee 0
Xavier 1, Pella 1