Minneapolis, MN -- Monday, Rocket League opened its spring play with a 3-1 victory over the Indiana Institute of Technology. Sophomore Andre Muteba showed out with 11 total goals and 4 saves to lead the Rams. Then on Thursday, Super Smash Ultimate faced off with the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon as they battled their way to a 2-1 nailbiter victory. Finally, NCU Fortnite began play on Saturday with its first NACE Split Qualifier. 

Rocket League vs Indiana Institute of Technology (3-1 Victory) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1: NCU - 3   IIT - 2

• Game 1 started with a stalemate, with both teams scoreless after the first 90 seconds.
• Andre "blyze" Muteba then scored the first goal of the season with a read off the side wall, putting NCU up with 3:30 left in the game.
• NCU doubled their lead by catching IIT off guard, Muteba noticed an opening and scored from across the field.
• IIT fired back, scoring an aerial goal right in front of NCU's net to make it 2-1 and cut the deficit to just a goal.
• IIT scored a clutch goal, stuffing two NCU defenders at their goal line, to tie up the match and send things into overtime. 
• OT did not last long, however, as Blaise "Blaise_C" Crowson snuck a goal past the left post to seal game one.

Game 2: NCU - 3   IIT - 4

• The Rams came out hot as Muteba scored a goal in just 7 seconds.
• NCU pelted IIT's backboard until Muteba finally snuck another goal through. The score is now 2-2.
• Muteba helped NCU extend their lead to 3-0, dribbling the ball around IIT's final defender.
• Looking to keep their hope alive, IIT scored to cut NCU's lead to just two.
• IIT's defense held strong, allowing them to counterattack and keep the game within one goal.
• North Central's defense began to fall apart, allowing IIT to tie things with their third goal of the game.
• After 39 seconds into OT, IIT capitalized on their fourth unanswered goal, taking game 2 by comeback. 

Game 3: NCU - 3   IIT - 0

• Once again, NCU scored a goal in exactly 7 seconds, putting NCU in the lead early in game 3.
• Just as the game reached the halfway point, Muteba flicked the ball over IIT's last defender, doubling NCU's lead.
• Crowson noticed an open lane and sent a shot straight through midfield and into the back of IIT's net.
• NCU held onto their lead and closed out game 3 at 3-0 to force match point.

Game 4: NCU - 6   IIT - 2

• The Rams continued their hot streak, with Muteba scoring the opening goal in just 9 seconds.
• Just 30 seconds later, Muteba strikes again making it a 2-0 lead for NCU.
• Giving IIT no room to breathe, Muteba scored his third goal of the game just a minute into game four.
• Muteba went on to score three more goals making it a double hat trick game for the sophomore.
• IIT managed one goal to attempt a comeback, but NCU remained strong and finished game 4 at 6-1.

Super Smash vs Purdue Fort Wayne (2-1 Victory)

Game 1: NCU - 9   PFW - 12   |   Game 2: NCU - 12   PFW - 10   |   Game 3: NCU - 12   PFW - 1

• Asher "bulewaras" Winter had his varsity premier this game, playing in games one and two and taking a combined seven stocks and locking down the team's win in game two.
• Rydon "RjFx4" Foldhazi returned this season, opening game one and coming in second games two and three. He took eight stocks total and swayed the game in NCU's favor in game two with a five-stock run.
• Josiah "Joey" Ciseneros made his super smash debut, playing in games one and three and taking four stocks total. He single-handedly turned the tide back in the Rams' favor in game three, allowing for Graham's comeback.
• Benjamin "BTGing" Piasecki also made his debut on NCU's crew battle team, showing up in games two and three,  opening game three with a four-stock run and taking six total.
• Phillip "wtrPHILter" Graham returned as the team's anchor once again, taking eight stocks total across all three games. He closed out games two and three for NCU, sealing the win in the first match of the season.

Fortnite - NACE Split 1 Qualifier 1

NCU had three duos that competed in the first open qualifier for NACE's Spring Split 1, which saw all teams battling out for points in a build format across 4 games. NCU Gold duo player, Andre "blyze" Muteba would lead NCU in eliminations starting strong in game 1 with 3 eliminations. While Christian "waycool12" Berry from NCU Blue would also score an elimination from the opening game. Meanwhile, NCU White comprised of Benjamin "Flash" VanWyk and Garrett "G-DOGCON04" Converse would struggle with hotly contested drops and it would take them until game three to earn their first elimination point. 

After the first qualifier, the standings are as follows:

NCU Gold: Tied 28/63 in qualifier Lobby 1:  *Tied 61/125 overall
NCU Blue: Tied 37/63 in qualifier Lobby 1: *Tied 73/125 overall
NCU White:  Tied 37/62 in qualifier Lobby 2: *Tied 73/125 overall
*Tentative placement


Upcoming Schedule:

Tuesday 2/13
    Valorant vs University of Wisconsin - River Falls @ 6:30 PM
Wednesday 2/14
    Valorant vs University of Central Oklahoma @ 7:30 PM
Thursday 2/15
    Super Smash vs Manchester University @ 6:00 PM
Saturday 2/17
    Fortnite at NACE Split 1 Qualifier 2 @ 2:00 PM

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for all your esports and Rams Athletics information and news!