KEENE, N.H. – Looking to avenge their first loss of the season, the Keene State College Rocket League esports team sought revenge against the Bulldogs in the Semifinals in the NACE Starleague Varsity Playoffs. After taking game one in the best of seven, the Owls dropped the next four and ultimately fell to KU, 4-1.

Records

• #5 Keene State: 4-3 Regular Season
• #1 Kettering: 6-1 Regular Season 

How it Happened


The Bulldogs got on the board first in game one as "TSB" assisted "Ciakman" for the opening aerial goal, 1:37 into the contest. Alex Nimiroski evened the game up at two apiece for KSC, as he scored a doubler, by passing the ball of the back wall to himself and then shooting it into the goal, with exactly a minute remaining. Keegan Wilder sent the ball to the center of the field to Nimiroski who connected on an aerial shot and goal just five seconds after the previous goal. The Owls tacked on another goal, with 35 seconds remaining, as Wilder scored from a centering pass from Nimiroski. Wilder scored again for KSC, just 12 seconds later, in what would be KSC's final goal of the game, giving them the 4-1 game win and 1-0 series lead over the Bulldogs.
 
KSC got out to a quick lead in game two, as Wilder was able to assist Nimiroski for the quick goal, just 16 seconds into the game. KU responded with five goals of their own over the next four minutes, as KSC was unable to score again until Eric Carlo scored a goal from Nimiroski, with 38 seconds left. The Bulldogs put the nail in the coffin from a goal from "TSB" with 16 seconds left, to give KU the 6-2 game win and even the series up at one apiece. 
 
In game three, the Owls opened the scoring 1:01 seconds into the game, as all three Owls were able to clear the Bulldog defenders, which resulted on the ball sitting on the goal line for #### to tap into the goal, with ### picking up the assist. KU tied the game up at one with 2:44 left, as "TSB" assisted "Ciakman" for the equalizer. Just 28 seconds later, Nimiroski put the Owls back ahead with a shot just over the Bulldogs' side of the midfield line, that went around the defender and into the net for KSC. 35 seconds later, "Ciakman" tied the game up again for the Bulldogs, after they cleared the ball from deep in KU's zone, and nobody from KSC was home to stop the shot, as they evened the game up at two. "Ciakman" picked up the hattrick with 40 seconds left and KSC was unable to answer the rest of the way, as KU picked up the 3-2 game win for the 2-1 series lead.
 
Kettering opened the scoring in the fourth game with a pair of goals from "Qxackd" in the first 47 seconds. "TSB" increased KU's lead to three with 2:36 left in the game on a goal. The Owls picked up their first goal of their game as they tried to mount their comeback attempt, as Nimiroski scored an aerial goal from Wilder with 1:31 left to play. Unfortunately for the Owls, they were unable to score another goal as KU won the game, 3-1, and gained a 3-1 series lead.
 
"Ciakman" scored just six seconds into game five, to put KU ahead very early. "Qxackd" added another goal with 2:05 remaining, as they hoped close out the series with a victory. Nimiroski responded right back to the last KU goal with a goal of his own, just seven seconds later, to pull them back within a goal. The Bulldogs put the game out of reach for KSC with their final goal of the game, coming from "Ciakman" as they put KU ahead 3-1 with 1:22 remaining. KSC fought to score until the last second and even after as they tried to score a goal as the clock was at all zeros, until the ball hit the ground, but KU was able to hold them off and pick up the 4-1 series victory. 
 
Up Next


Keene State's inaugural season comes to an end after reaching the semifinals of the NACE Starleague Varsity Playoffs for Rocket League, along with reaching the quarterfinals for both Overwatch 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The Owls will be back in action in the fall of 2024 for their next season with the three teams coming back and KSC will be adding another team as Valorant will be joining Rocket League, Overwatch 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Follow KSC_Esports on social media for more updates!