Minneapolis, MN -- Last week, North Central University (NCU) Rocket League competed in their opening round NACE playoff match and Valorant fought for a playoff berth in two weekday matches. Rocket League battled hard against William Peace University in the Round of 6, defeating the Pacers 3-1 to advance in the postseason. In their first matchup of the week, Valorant lost in a back-and-forth affair as they lost 2-1 to Iona University. With the conference playoffs on the line, the Rams had to re-coop against Keene State College, but ultimately fell 2-0 to end their season. 

Rocket League vs William Peace University (3-1 Victory) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1: NCU - 3   WPU - 1  |  Game 2: NCU - 3   WPU - 2  |  Game 3: NCU - 1   WPU - 3  |  Game 4: NCU - 1   WPU - 0

North Central came into the matchup with strong team chemistry and opened the series by striking first. Consistent clears and pressure helped the Rams control the pace and secure a 3-1 win in Game 1. In Game 2, NCU leaned heavily into their offensive strategy, which left some defensive gaps. However, they managed to edge out a 3-2 victory. Game 3 started on a rough note with an own goal off a misplayed back pass, and miscommunication on defense allowed the opponent to capitalize and take the game 3-1. In a tightly contested Game 4, junior Andre "Drae" Muteba broke the deadlock with a clutch goal. From there, North Central locked down defensively to preserve the 1-0 shutout and clinch the 3-1 series win.

Valorant vs Iona University (2-1 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Ascent: NCU - 11   IU - 13  |  Game 2 - Pearl: NCU - 13   IU - 1  |  Game 3 - Havens: NCU - 16   IU - 18

In a dramatic three-map battle, North Central narrowly fell to Iona University after a marathon overtime on the final map. On Ascent, the Rams started strong with an 8-4 lead at halftime thanks to solid defense. However, momentum shifted in the second half as offensive struggles allowed Iona to rally back for a 13-11 win. NCU responded emphatically on Pearl, making their debut on the map with a dominant 13-1 victory. The deciding map, Haven, was an all-out battle. Both teams remained deadlocked through regulation and nine rounds of overtime. Ultimately, Iona edged out the Rams in the 10th OT round, handing NCU a heartbreaking 18-16 loss to end the series.

Valorant vs Keene State College (2-0 Defeat) - FULL RESULTS

Game 1 - Pearl: NCU - 5   KSC - 13  |  Game 2 - Haven: NCU - 4   KSC - 13 

With postseason hopes on the line, North Central took on Keene State in a best-of-three series but struggled to find footing on either map. Looking to build off the previous night's performance, the Rams opted to play on Pearl and Haven. Unfortunately, Keene State's combination of tactical coordination and superior firepower made it difficult for NCU to gain any momentum. The Rams were unable to secure critical advantages in either map, falling 13-5 on Pearl and 13-4 on Haven. The 2-0 defeat marked the end of North Central's season.

Upcoming Schedule:

Monday 3/31 (NACE Playoffs - Round of 4)
    Rocket League vs. Oral Roberts University @ 6:00 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.