KEENE, N.H. – Last week, Keene State Varsity Esports program wrapped up its first full week of national competition in Playfly College Esports for the Spring 2025 season.

 

Keene State Esports is a Varsity member of Playfly College Esports, one of the largest governing bodies of collegiate esports competition in the world. Playfly sanctions competitions from colleges and universities across the country, awarding scholarship money and hardware to successful teams each season (Fall and Spring). KSC Esports teams compete in a regular season schedule and a playoff bracket, if teams qualify.

All KSC Esports games are streamed on Twitch, at twitch.tv/KeeneStateEsports and twitch.tv/KeeneStateEsports2, as well as KSC Athletics' official YouTube page youtube.com/@keenestateowls1909.

Rocket League Varsity

Season record: 1-1

Week 1: vs. Rowan University Gold (3-1 victory)

KSC Varsity Rocket League opened the season for KSC Esports on January 30th against Rowan University, a conference-mate from last season. KSC won game one 3-2, following an overtime goal by captain Eric "EricKamii" Carlo just three seconds into the period. Rowan took game 2 in overtime, 4-3, in the same fashion as the Owls in game 1, as "elasted" off the kickoff just three seconds into the period.

With that, Rowan showed they would not go down easily. KSC managed to win the third game 2-1, and closed out the series with a gritty 1-0 victory in game four to take the series 3-1.

Series stats:
 

Eric "EricKamii" Carlo

2 Goals, 2 Assists, 3 Saves

Alex "normal" Nimiroski

7 goals, 2 Assists, 10 Saves

Andrew "Aurorxs" Sorcinelli

0 Goals, 3 Assists, 8 Saves

Week 2: vs. Robert Morris University (2-3 loss)

After having been eliminated by RMU in the semifinals of Playfly College Esports Varsity Premier last season, the Owls had an opportunity to take a revenge game, and narrowly missed the victory. After falling down two games to zero in a best of five series, the Owls staged a heroic comeback to tie the series, including a game-tying goal in game four by Alex "normal" Nimiroski as time expired to send the game to overtime, which the Owls won. However, in the fifth and series-deciding match, RMU pulled away quickly with a 4-1 lead that the Owls were unable to come back from. 

Eric "EricKamii" Carlo

1 Goal, 2 Assists, 10 Saves

Alex "normal" Nimiroski

5 Goals, 2 Assists, 8 Saves

Andrew "Aurorxs" Sorcinelli

6 Goals, 1 Assist, 10 Saves

What's next: KSC Varsity Rocket League takes on Clarke University at 7:30 PM on Monday, February 10th. 

Rocket League Academy
Season record: 0-1

Week 1: vs. RIT Black (0-3 loss)

 

Coming off of a successful first season in existence, KSC Rocket League Academy opened their season vs. RIT Black. The Owls had flashes of brilliance against the Tigers, but RIT proved to be a tough challenge, as the Owls fell 0-3 in the best of five series.

 

Adam "Stylobiko" Albik

2 Goals, 1 Assist, 6 Saves

Jack "Jackattack1600" Manning 

1 Goal, 2 Assists, 11 Saves

Ryan "Dreamz" Morrison

2 Goals, 0 Assists, 5 Saves

 

What's next: Rocket League Academy battles RIT Gray on Monday, February 10th at 8:30 PM.

 

VALORANT

Season record: 1-0

Week 1: vs. Coffeyville Community College (2-0 victory)

 

KSC VALORANT opened their season against a rival from last season, Coffeyville Community College. In the best of three series, the first map was Haven, and the Owls impressed right away. In a dominant 13-0 map victory, highlights included the first ace of the season (one person eliminating all enemy players) by Thomas "Chumbladorfian" Czwakiel.  This 13-0 victory was the first such occurrence in KSC VALORANT history.

Map 1 statistics:
Thomas "Chumbladorfian" Czwakiel

20 Kills/2 Deaths/2 Assists

Nathan "ShotgunUser" Ruangturakid

18 Kills/5 Deaths/6 Assists

Hailey "HMeesh" Michaud

11 Kills/7 Deaths/6 Assists

Jeremy "yerrei" Giguere

10 Kills/4 Deaths/6 Assists

Ysaiah "YsaHolmes" Arezzo

6 KIlls/3 Deaths/4 Assists

 

Having lost map 1, CCC chose Bind as the destination for map 2. There, Coffeyville played the Owls tough, taking six rounds. However, KSC was able to keep steady control of the match and took Bind 13-2, securing the second map and the 2-0 series victory for KSC.

 

Map 2 statistics:

Thomas "Chumbladorfian" Czwakiel

16 KIlls/12 Deaths/7 Assists

Nathan "ShotgunUser" Ruangturakid

16 Kills/16 Deaths/7 Assists

Hailey "HMeesh" Michaud

21 Kills/10 Deaths/7 Assists

Jeremy "yerrei" Giguere

19 Kills/7 Deaths/5 Assists

Sheldom "redblast" Vasquez

6 Kills/9 Deaths/7 Deaths

 

What's next: KSC VALORANT takes on Iona University at 9:15 PM on Tuesday, February 11th.

 

Overwatch 2

Season record: 0-1

Week 1: vs. RIT White (0-2 loss)

Coming off of an undefeated, championship-winning Fall 2024, the Overwatch Owls opened their Spring campaign versus the Tigers of RIT White. 

 

Map 1: Illios

In this first-to-three king of the hill style mode, the Owls and Tigers split the first two rounds, with the Tigers securing the first point and the Owls taking the second. On the third and final point, the Owls held it with a 99% to 23% lead. However, KSC was unable to secure the point back and subsequently lost the map 1-2 to the Tigers. 

Shea "Hotpocket" Castriotta

24 Eliminations/2 Assists/8 Deaths

Eli "Goofymcgoob" Volpini
17 Eliminations/0 Assists/9 Deaths

Connor "HoodNut" Malone

18 Eliminations/4 Assists/13 Deaths

Jackson "Crimgo" Holderby"
9 Eliminations/9 Assists/9 Deaths

Korben "ShadowStorm" Robinson

6 Eliminations/13 Assists/11 Deaths

 

Ilios Statistics: 

 

Map 2: Midtown

In losing Ilios, the Owls were able to select the map for the second game mode, Hybrid. The Owls selected Midtown. On attack, the Owls were able to take the initial control point swiftly, within two fights. From there, the Tigers held firm against the Owls attack on the second point, with KSC breaking through with little time left to unlock the third checkpoint and an additional minute and thirty seconds. The Owls were able to push the payload 69.35 meters before time expired.

On defense, KSC was able to stave off RIT's capture point attack for two minutes before the Tigers broke through. RIT then smoothly pushed the payload through the second checkpoint and were able to win the map with one minute, 37 seconds left.

 

Midtown Statistics:
Matt "Midas" Bonner

18 Eliminations/3 Assists/7 Deaths

Connor "HoodNut" Malone
14 Eliminations/2 Assists/10 Deaths

Catch "TuT" Foss

15 Eliminations/2 Assists/11 Deaths

Jackson "Crimgo" Holderby"
8 Eliminations/13 Assists/10 Deaths

Korben "ShadowStorm" Robinson

7 Eliminations/16 Assists/10 Deaths

 

Map 3: Suravasa

KSC selected Suravasa for Flashpoint, the third game mode. With the series in jeopardy the Owls came out swinging and took the first point in the first-to-three game mode. However, the Tigers put a stop to the Owls' momentum by taking the subsequent three capture points, winning Flashpoint 3-1 and taking the series 3-0. 

 

Shea "Hotpocket" Castriotta

26 Eliminations/5 Assists/8 Deaths

Connor "HoodNut" Malone
10 Eliminations/0 Assists/11 Deaths

Catch "TuT" Foss

15 Eliminations/0 Assists/12 Deaths

Jackson "Crimgo" Holderby"
11 Eliminations/12 Assists/11 Deaths

Korben "ShadowStorm" Robinson

10 Eliminations/9 Assists/12 Deaths

 

What's next: KSC Overwatch 2 takes on California State University Dominguez Hills at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, February 12th.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Season record: 1-0

Week 1: vs. St. John's University (2-0 victory, SJU forfeit)

 

KSC Super Smash Bros. Ultimate were set to debut last Monday, February 3rd against St. John's University, however due to a scheduling issue SJU were forced to forfeit, resulting in a 2-0 victory for the Owls.

What's next: KSC SSBU is slated to play Iona University on Monday, February 10th, marking the first in-game action of the season for the squad.

Follow KSC_Esports on social media for more updates!