Minneapolis, MN -- North Central University (NCU) Rocket League and Valorant were back in action this week. Coming off spring break, Rocket League returned for their fifth match of the regular season against Kettering University, falling 3-1. North Central's Valorant team squared off against DePaul University, losing 2-0 to the Blue Demons.

Rocket League vs Kettering University (3-1 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1: NCU - 4   KU - 3  |  Game 2: NCU - 3   KU - 5  |  Game 3: NCU - 1   KU - 5  |  Game 4: NCU - 4   KU - 5

The Rams started strong, edging out a 4-3 win in a tightly contested overtime battle in Game 1. However, as the team ramped up their pace of play, execution errors crept in. In Game 2, those mistakes proved costly in a 3-5 loss. Game 3 saw NCU struggle to regain their rhythm, managing just one goal in a 1-5 defeat. Game 4 showed signs of improvement with an early goal from junior Andre "Drae" Muteba and stronger defensive play, but after forcing overtime again, NCU fell just short, dropping the final game 4-5. With the 1-3 series loss, the Rams now look ahead to their final two regular-season matchups next week.

Valorant vs DePaul University (2-0 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Ascent: NCU - 7   DPU - 13  |  Game 2 - Lotus: NCU - 4   DPU - 13

On the opening map, Ascent, NCU dropped the early pistol and bonus rounds but responded with three straight round wins to stay competitive. Despite the rally, they trailed 4-8 at halftime. The Rams came out strong on defense, taking the pistol and bonus rounds in the second half, but momentum slipped away as they managed just one more round, ultimately falling 7-13, but still posting their highest single-map round total of the season. Map two shifted to Lotus, where NCU's defense showed marked improvement. They matched their previous map's first-half total with another 4-8 performance, highlighted by solid site holds. On offense, the Rams were able to secure plants in four of five attacking rounds but struggled to capitalize due to post-plant coordination issues. They would go on to drop the second map 4-13. Despite the 0-2 defeat, the Rams demonstrated noticeable growth in team play and fundamentals. Standout performances from Neiji "Mob Siab" Lee and Christian "Granite" Berry helped keep NCU in contention and showed promise as the team continues to develop.

Upcoming Schedule:

Monday 3/17
    Rocket League vs. Highland Community College @ 6:00 PM
    Rocket League vs. Ferris State University @ 7:30 PM
Tuesday 3/18
    Valorant vs. Rochester Institute of Technology @ 7:30 PM
Friday 3/21
    Valorant vs. Coffeyville Community College @ 8:30 PM

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on esports and all things NCU Athletics.