KEENE, N.H. – Monday night marked the first ever match for the Keene State Esports team as they took on the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne in Rocket League. The Owls took the first two games in the best of five series in commanding fashion, but the Mastodons answered back and took the third game, looking to mount a comeback. In game four, PFW scored a goal late in the game to force sudden death overtime, and after 3:52 captain Eric Carlo closed the door and gave the Owls the first Esports win in program history.

Records

• Keene State: 1-0
• Purdue Fort Wayne: 0-1

How it Happened

Alex Nimiroski opened the scoring for the Owls in the first of the best of five series, scoring the first goal from a cross off the wall from Carlo for the first goal in program history just 1:02 into the five-minute match. Keegan Wilder got on the board, picking up an assist by setting Carlo up for a goal by bouncing the ball off the wall right next to the goal, giving KSC a 2-0 lead with 3:22 in game one. Jheart helped PFW get within a goal of the Owls with under a minute left, but they would miss their opportunity from FunkySoul, as he rung a shot off the post and the Owls held on for the 2-1 game 1 win. Nimiroski earned MVP of the first game, with a goal, epic save, and three shots. Carlo added a goal and an assist with three shots, while Wilder had an assist and one shot in game one.
 
In game two, PFW got on the board early with FunkySoul scoring a goal just 39 second into the game. The Owls answered right back with Nimiroski scoring a goal with an assist from Carlo as Carlo was able to fake out the Mastodon defender for a clear shot for Nimiroski to tie the game up at 1-1 just four seconds after the first goal. Jheart got on the board for the first time in the game with an assist to FunkySoul off the backboard above the wall at exactly one minute into the game. With 1:44 remaining in the game, Carlo made a huge save on the goal line for the Owls, and then scored a goal of his own, set up from Wilder, at the 1:16 mark, to knot the game up at two apiece. The Owls would go on to score three more goals in row to end the contest, with the goals coming from Nimiroski (from Carlo), Carlo (from Nimiroski just six seconds later) and the hattrick goal for Carlo (coming from Wilder), making it four unanswered goals to give KSC the 5-2 win. Carlo was named the MVP of game two with three goals, a pair of assists, five shots and two saves. Nimiroski had two goals and two assists on four shots, while Wilder had an assist and a shot in the win.
 
Game three was not the best for Keene State, as they fell 2-1. FunkySoul opened the scoring with 3:16 left in the game, followed by Wilder tying the game up at 1-1 after he crossed the ball to the center of the crease and Zane249 sent the own goal into the back of the goal evening the game at 1-1. FunkySoul added his second goal, the game winner, with 36 seconds remaining, giving the Mastodons the win in game three. FunkySoul won the MVP of game three with his two goals scored. Wilder had the lone goal for the Owls on the game and finished with one shot and a pair of saves, while Nimiroski finished with four shots and Carlo finished with two saves and two assists.
 
In what would be the clinching game for the Owls on the day in game four, Nimiroski opened the scoring, 24 seconds into the contest, off a pass from Wilder, giving the Owls the lead early on. Carlo added a goal at the 3:48 mark, from a shot from almost an impossible angle from the left corner of the goal, to put the Owls up a pair. FunkySoul answered back just 36 seconds later with a goal of his owl, followed by a goal from jheart 24 second later, which evened the score out at two apiece with plenty of time remaining in the contest. With 1:21 remaining, Nimiroski send a pass from the right side boost across the middle to Wilder, who buried it into the back of the net to give KSC the lead with little time remaining, but nearly a minute later, with 22 seconds remaining, jheart was able to fly through the air and dribble the ball, banking it off the backboard and to himself which he shot it into the game-tying goal. With both teams going into sudden death overtime, the teams traded possessions and chances back and forth, until at the 3:52 mark the Owls had one of their best plays of the whole day; Wilder cleared the ball from the KSC zone, where Carlo found the ball in the air (from near midfield) and shot the ball on goal, finding the bottom left corner of the net, past FunkySoul for the game-winner and giving the Owls their first win in program history. Carlo won MVP of the final game, with two goals on seven shots. Nimiroski finished with a goal and an assist on five shots, with a pair of saves, while Wilder finished with a goal and a pair of assists with five shots. 
 
When Carlo was interviewed after the game and asked how he felt after the game winner, this is what he had to say: "Really good actually.  Good way to end out the first series.  We kind of got a little bit nervous mid-series, but cleaned it up and played how we wanted to play.  It was a great series.  Shout out to the whole team, to our coaches, and all the supporters coming out and watching the game in the other room.  Everybody watching on the stream right now, I appreciate it.  But year, overall great series.  Thought it set a good tone for the rest of the season.  Awesome night." 
 
When asked about how he thought his team played, he talked about how they played amazing as a team and adjusted to get the win, "Really good.  I know me and Alex…or Normal and I guess is his in-game name…we were kind of missing our shots a little bit at the beginning of the series, but kind of locked it down and started to play defense and they switched up our play style and we switched up theirs.  Love how we adapted and overcame, and I think everybody played really well.  Keegs did a really good job – held me and Alex down defensively.  Everybody just did an amazing job."
 
When Kevin McDermot, one of the head coaches for the Keene State Rocket League team was interviewed postgame, he talked how well the team has come together over the short time they have before games started "Exciting.  Lots of nerves over there.  You just have to stick with your boys and have faith in them.  I knew every one of them could outperform that other team because their all just really strong players.  We've been practicing for only a month but I could see them instantly gel together. Obviously, we have captain Eric…he's a great guy…but all six of the guys on the team do not let anyone else get down in their feels.  They make sure everyone is lifted as much as possible.  Mandatory fist bumps."
 
McDermot also added that they are locked in on next week and looking forward to focusing on the next opponent. 
 
After getting the opportunity to talk with Noah Drouin, the Esports Head Coach of Keene State, you could tell how over the moon he is with how everything has turned out for the program in such a short time. When asked about how everything went tonight, he said the following, "Tonight was a dream come true as a KSC alum. We hosted a watch party next door that saw dozens of students and staff come by to show support for their Owls in our inaugural game. I want to acknowledge not only the student-athletes, but the student workers who made this production possible, and my two Rocket League assistant coaches, Kevin McDermot and Thomas LaPointe, for preparing our Rocket League team so effectively."
 
Between the Sticks

• With a peak current viewer count of 82, the livestream reached the Top 10 Rocket League streams on Twitch.tv. 
• Carlo led the Owls in scoring, logging six goals, including a hat trick in game two, while Nimiroski logged four goals and Wilder tallied a pair of goals.
• Wilder led the Owls in assists with four, while Carlo and Nimiroski were closely behind with three apiece.
• Carlo led the team in saves with four, while Nimiroski had three and Wilder had a pair.

Up Next

Keene State's next contest for Rocket League will come next Monday at 7:00 PM against Mid-American Christian Academy on Monday, February 12.
The next Esports contest for the Owls will come in less than 24 hours, as the Overwatch 2 team will make their inaugural season debut against Lindenwood on Tuesday, February 6 at 8:15 PM.