Archived Broadcast

KEENE, N.H. – After suffering a 3-1 loss to the University of Mary Washington on March 13, the Keene State College Rocket League eSports team looked to get revenge on the Eagles in the quarterfinal round in the NACE Starleague Varsity Plus Divisional Playoffs. The Owls took advantage of their 19 days since their last contest, beating UMW 4-1 in the best of seven series. 

Records

• Keene State: 5-3
• Mary Washington (Blue): 4-4

How It Happened
In the opening game in the best of seven, it looked like MWU would cruise to an easy game one win, after leading 3-0 with under a minute remaining in the game. Then, with 57 seconds remaining, Keegan Wilder sent a centering pass across the middle to Eric Carlo, who sent it off the post and into the net, as he tried to start up a comeback attempt for the Owls. Just as the shout casters said, "Don't let us get one", because late in games, when the Owls got hot, they rarely could be stopped. Just eight seconds later, Wilder picked up another assist, by assisting Alex Nimiroski on the Owls' second goal, with 49 seconds remaining in the game. Then in the final seconds, Wilder sent a shot on target from midfield, that was saved by "Spam" by the Eagles, but Nimiroski followed the rebound and tied the game up at three apiece, with a goal with only 11 seconds remaining. Then, just four seconds later, the Owls took a 4-3 lead, thanks to an aerial goal from Carlo, which ended up being the game-winning goal, giving the Owls the 1-0 series lead and 4-3 game win.
 
In game two, MWU took the lead, 2:02 into the game, as "Scerbii" scored a goal. 11 seconds later, Carlo evened the game at one apiece, thanks to another aerial goal, coming from Nimiroski. MWU retook the lead six seconds later, thanks to a goal from "Gojo" as the Eagles jumped back ahead. With 1:55 remaining, Wilder sent a pass around the wall, right to Carlo in front of the goal, who scored to tie the game up at two. Neither team scored the rest of regulation, as game two went into sudden-death overtime. 23 seconds into overtime, the Owls picked up the win thanks to Nimiroski sending a pass along the wall to Carlo, who picked up the game-winning goal, once again, giving KSC the 2-0 series lead. 
 
"Scerbii" scored first for the Eagles, 1:04 into game three, to put MWU ahead early. Once again for the Owls, Carlo scored, with Nimiroski picking up the assist, thanks to an Eagle defender misplaying the ball, with 2:21 remaining in game three. With 1:39 remaining, the Eagles retook the lead, from a goal from "Spam". MWU looked like they would take the lead in regulation, but all three members of the Owls' team contributed to tying the game up, with only a second remaining; Wilder demolished a MWU defender, Nimiroski passed the ball over to Carlo, who scored, to send the game into sudden-death overtime. Unfortunately for the Owls, "Spam" scored for the Eagles, 28 seconds into the overtime, bringing the series lead to 2-1 for the Owls.
 
For the first time in the series, the Owls scored first to open game four, as Nimiroski sent a centering pass to Wilder, who put the Owls up, 31 seconds into the game. With 3:15 remaining, Nimiroski picked up a goal of his own, as he was able to boost past an MWU defender and score the centering pass from Carlo. Carlo put the 31 seconds later, Carlo put the Owls up by three, by scoring a goal from near midfield for the Owls. Nimiroski put the nail in the coffin with the final goal of the game, with 1:12 remaining, which gave KSC the 4-0 game win, and 3-1 series win, putting them on the verge of winning their first ever playoff matchup in program history, across all esports teams.
 
The Eagles tried to mount a comeback in the series, as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead, off a goal from "Spam", 36 seconds into the game. KSC drew even with 3:24 remaining, as Wilder sent a centering pass to Carlo, who scored yet another goal for the Owls. "Spam" scored again just over a minute later to give the Eagles the lead, but it did not last long, as Nimiroski sent a shot on net, which looked like it would go in, but Carlo finished the shot, to ensure the goal, to tie the game up at two with 1:57 remaining. After neither team scored the rest of regulation, the Owls took complete control of the sudden-death overtime, as Carlo and Wilder each just narrowly missed the series-winning goal, and Nimiroski closed the door by following Wilder's shot with the game-winner, giving KSC the 4-1 series win.
 
Up Next
Keene State's next contest for Rocket League will come in the semifinals of the NACE Starleague Varsity Plus Divisional Playoffs, next Monday, April 8, at 7:00 PM against Kettering University.