Minneapolis, MN -- Monday, Rocket League would lose a 5 game series battle to Lubbock Christian 3-2. On Tuesday, NCU Valorant would play their 4^th group stage match against UW-Stout and though the team had a better showing, key errors prevented the team from securing important rounds ad they lost 2-0. On Thursday, NCU Varsity Smash beat Ozark Tech this week, going up 12-8 in game one and then 12-10 in game two to take the match. On Saturday, Valorant would play their final CVAL match of the Fall Tournament and come out victorious over the Western Iowa Tech Comets 2-0. 

Rocket League vs Lubbock Christian (3-2 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1: NCU - 0   LCU - 4

• NCU approaches this matchup looking to take the #1 seed in the conference as there was currently a 3-way tie for 1st.
• 30 seconds into the match, LCU sends a ball floating toward NCU's goal, and an opposing player fakes a touch leaving NCU defenseless in the net and the score 1-0 Lubbock.
• A minute goes by and NCU becomes flustered at their goal line, an LCU player sneaks a goal past the left post for a 2-0 lead.
• After a missed opportunity by the Rams, LCU responds by air dribbling across the field and dunking the ball over the lone NCU defender.
• Not even 30 seconds later, North Central concedes yet another goal making this a 4-0 deficit and loses game 1.

Game 2: NCU - 3   LCU - 2

• the second game looked more promising, as Thomas "Uriel" Heimer creates good pressure upfield and dunks two LCU defenders for NCU's first goal of the series.
• NCU catches LCU on an awkward rotation and furthers their lead with a goal from Heimer once again.
• Lubbock answers back and keeps their game 2 hopes alive with a goal, just under 2 minutes left in the match.
• After over a minute of defense from the Rams, LCU sneaks their second goal through to equalize to tie things up and force overtime. 
• NCU starts OT out quickly and mounts multiple attacks on LCU's goal line.
• After over a minute of overtime chaos, Heimer sneaks through his 3rd goal of the match, tying up the series.

Game 3: NCU - 5   LCU - 3

• LCU comes out swinging, scoring in just 18 seconds.
• Micah "miciliux" Headley helps NCU answer with a flip reset at LCU's goal line, score is now 1-1 within just 30 seconds.
• Andre "blvyze" Muteba and Headley link up at Lubbock's goal line for Muteba's first goal of the series and a 2-1 lead for NCU.
• Not even 15 seconds pass before Muteba is back at LCU's goal line making this a 2-goal deficit for LCU.
• A double commit at NCU's goal line causes an open net to reveal itself for LCU, the score is now 3-2.
• LCU gains momentum as they score their 3rd goal of the game to tie with North Central.
• NCU needing to win this match found another goal from Muteba with 34 seconds left on the clock.
• To seal the game away, Headley scores another goal to push the series to 2-1 in the Rams favor. 

Game 4: NCU - 1   LCU - 2

• LCU established a lead just 20 seconds into the match with an open net goal.
• After 2 minutes of silence from both teams, NCU ties the game with a goal from Headley.
• LCU scores with just 21 seconds left in the match and manages to hold off for the remaining time, winning game 4 and keeping their hopes in the series alive.

Game 5: NCU - 2   LCU - 3

• NCU comes out hot as Muteba sends a pass across midfield which is met by Headley for an early NCU lead.
• To maintain the momentum, Heimer scores the second goal, making this match look like an NCU win.
• To survive in the series, LCU scores their first goal of the game to bring the score back within 1.
• Muteba takes a 50/50 ball in the mid-field and another LCU goal sneaks through, tying up this match.
• With just one second left in regulation, LCU missed a chance at the goal but it luckily bounced off the backboard, straight into an NCU player, which resulted in a series-winning goal for LCU.
• A painful loss for NCU but post-season remains promising. 

Valorant vs University of Wisconsin Stout (2-0 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Haven: NCU - 9   UWS - 13

• NCU would start slow on offense before beginning to show some spark with team captain Jack "cubbie" Hansen and freshmen Austin "mossed" Kimble working together to secure NCU's 4 rounds of the first half.
• Despite losing pistol NCU would show some resilience on defense, at one point bringing the game within one round. NCU would lose map one 9-13.

Game 2 - Bind: NCU - 4   UWS - 13

• On the second map, NCU would start on defense and the team would secure the pistol round. However, critical errors and communication breakdowns would cause the team to lose round 3 from advantage.
• Their economy would not recover and the only rounds NCU secured were the 4 found on defense. The Rams lost 4-13.

Valorant vs Camden County College (2-1 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Haven: NCU - 7   CCC - 13

• NCU would face a practiced Camden County offense. The Rams played many rounds down to the last person, but due to delayed lineups not used by most teams NCU would be prevented from defusing the Spike and would lose four rounds on defense.
• Going on offense down 3-9, NCU would fight to win 4 more rounds before ultimately giving up 3 successive rounds closing the first map 7-13.

Game 2 - Bind: NCU - 13   CCC - 11

• North Central would rally back on Bind going 7-5 on offense. On Defense things would look dire as NCU immediately gave up 4 rounds, but the team would pull together getting 6 more rounds to win the map 13-11. 

Game 3 - Sunset: NCU - 8   CCC - 13

• NCU would unveil a new agent composition allowing them as a team to remain tied in the first half of tiebreaker map of Sunset. On offense, the pistol seemed all but secured. However, the team being outplayed allowed CCC the edge they needed to secure momentum. The Rams would only take 2 rounds on offense losing the final map 8-13 and the series 1-2.

 
Super Smash vs Ozark Technical CC (2-0 Victory)

Game 1: NCU - 12   OTC - 8  |  Game 2: NCU - 12   OTC - 10

• Rydon "RjFx4" Foldhazi opened both games, taking nine stocks in total with a five stock and four stock run in games one and two respectively. He took positive stocks on the opposing Incineroar, Little Mac, and Corrin.
• Todd "lucid" Holloway II was on his game this week, taking a total of seven stocks while only dropping five between the two games. He three stocked OTC's Corrin while only taking seventeen percent during the fight.
• Phillip "wtrPHILter" Graham also came out swinging this week, taking four stocks in game two while only dropping one. He only had to play during the second game as he played as the anchor. As always, his coaching was invaluable and he greatly supported the team as their captain.
• Jameson "jamo" Hawn brought out both his heavies this week, playing both Bowser and Dedede in the match. He took four stocks in total.

 
Super Smash JV vs Sitting Bull College (2-0 Victory)

Game 1: NCU - 12   SBC - 2  |  Game 2: NCU - 12   SBC - 4

• NCU won game one sending out only Wyatt "whyit" Abts who got 12 stocks and only lost 2 in the first game.
• The second game Hunter "canteen" Jibben got 8 stocks before losing his 3rd and Asher "bluewaras" Winter would take the final 4 only losing 1.

Recaps written by Rydon Foldhazi


Valorant vs Western Iowa Technical Community College (2-0 Victory) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Sunset: NCU - 13   WIT - 8

• NCU would again adjust their agents to play more off of team strengths and it would pay off. The Rams would start on defense and keep the game the closest of their entire CVAL run finishing 5-7 on the first half.
• On offense, NCU would come to life winning their first 6 rounds. North Central would only give up one more round before closing out the final two, winning 13-8.

Game 2 - Ascent: NCU - 13   WIT - 11

• NCU would be reinvigorated by their opening win leading to a 8-4 offensive half, even winning a buy up round despite losing the opening pistol.
• WIT would play an aggressive offense that at first overwhelmed NCU, but they would rally and shift momentum forcing WIT to cool off. At this slower pace, NCU would secure the win 13-11. Winning the series 2-0

Upcoming Schedule:

Monday 11/6
    Rocket League vs Marietta College @ 6:00 PM
Tuesday 11/7
    Rocket League vs Mount St. Joseph University @ 6:00 PM
Wednesday 11/8
    Valorant vs Florida Tech @ 6:00 PM
Thursday 11/9
    Super Smash vs Independence Community College @ 6:00 PM
    Super Smash JV vs DePaul University @ 6:00 PM

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