LAST WEEK IN PEACOCK ESPORTS... The Upper Iowa University Esports team competed in four matches in four different games over the past week from Mar. 8 to 11. The team opened their week with NACE Fortnite and ECAC Rocket matches, securing a top 30 finish in Fortnite and falling by a score of 3-0 in Rocket League. UIU saw improvement in their NECC Valorant performance, but dropped the match 2-0. The Peacocks continued their undefeated run in NECC Overwatch competition with a dominant 3-0 win to wrap up the week.
ECAC ROCKET LEAGUE... The Peacocks fell by a score of 3-0 in their best-of-five match against Bethel University. The UIU defense managed to slow down the Bethel offense after the first game, but the Peacock offense attack could not get much going against the Pilot defense.
UIU Match Stats:
Goals/Shots: Sean Odegard: 2/6 (.333),
Brady Krupa: 0/2,
Trace Woodward: 0/1
Assists: Brady Krupa: 1,
Trace Woodward: 1,
Sean Odegard: 0
Saves: Sean Odegard: 6,
Brady Krupa: 3,
Trace Woodward: 1
NACE FORTNITE... UIU could not get any traction in their first of two rounds in the Duo Battle Royale, placing 33rd without securing any eliminations as they were eliminated on drop before getting a chance to gear up. The UIU duo placed 28th in the second round, but were again unable to notch any eliminations. This was the last NACE Fortnite competition for Upper Iowa this season.
NECC VALORANT... Upper Iowa showed improvement in their NECC Valorant match against Johnson & Wales University Team 2. The Peacocks pushed their opponents in a 13-6 loss in round one, and fell 13-4 in round two as they lost the match by a score of 2-0.
UIU Match Stats:
Robert Ngo had 23 kills, 33 deaths, and 8 assists. Ngo also secured one plant of the bomb while on offense.
Cameron Anderson had 18 kills, 35 deaths, and a team-high 14 assists. Anderson diffused the bomb once while on defense as well.
Cody Lawrence notched a team-high 24 kills, had 31 deaths, and 8 assists. Lawrence managed to get two bomb plants on the offensive side.
Sean Odegard had 23 kills, 30 deaths, and 4 assists while diffusing the enemy bomb one time.
Brady Krupa had 18 kills, 28 deaths, and 10 assists. Krupa led the UIU offensive attack with three plants and recorded diffused the bomb once on defense as well.
NECC OVERWATCH... The Peacocks were dominant in a 3-0 victory over Greenville University to stay undefeated in NECC Overwatch competition. The Upper Iowa squad was firing on all cylinders as they took both rounds and an early 1-0 match lead in map one, and set the tone with a strong defensive performance in the opening round of the next two maps to establish the marks to beat on offense in round two. UIU quickly dispatched the Panthers in all three rounds in a match that was broadcasted as the feature match of the night on the official NECC Twitch channel.
Match Highlights:
Map 1 - Nepal (Control Point): Upper Iowa looked good as they claimed a 100%-15% victory in the opening round to take an early lead. The Peacocks came out even better in the second round and carried their momentum to a flawless 100%-0% win in round two to win the first map and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Player Stats: Brady Jahr had the 'play of the game' to highlight the Peacock performance.
Nick Finder notched 33 defensive assists and had a 77% kill participation as he was in on the action early and often.
Xander Cortimilia recorded 35 eliminations and 20 objective kills to help UIU control the point.
Map 2 - Numbani (Hybrid): The Peacocks opened the second map on defense and gave up one objective point and an additional 96.67 meters. This strong defensive showing set the mark to beat for the UIU offense, and the Peacocks came out and took two of the Panther objective points to secure the win on the map and lock up a 2-0 victory for the match.
Player Stats: Brady Jahr had the 'play of the game' yet again while also putting up 30 eliminations.
Nick Finder continued to keep his squad standing by dishing out 9,900 points of healing, which accounted for 34% of the total damage taken.
Trace Woodward racked up 30 eliminations and 20 objective kills as he worked to wipe out the opposing team.
Map 3 - Dorado (Escort): The result of the third map would not change the 2-0 Peacock victory over the Panthers, but the teams played it for tiebreaker purposes that could come into play at the end of the season. UIU opened the map on defense and saw the Panthers push their payload 58.78 meters without taking any points. The Peacocks managed to move their payload 59 meters, ending the match after advancing further than Greenville.
Player Stats: Brady Jahr recorded the 'play of the game' for a third time in as many maps.
Nick Finder contributed 7,900 points of healing to make up for 42% of the total damage taken by UIU.
Xander Cortimilia notched 20 eliminations and 10 objective kills to help secure the win.
UP NEXT... The Peacocks are set to play in four contests this week, which will be the new norm following the conclusion of their Fortnite and League of Legends seasons. UIU faces SUNY Poly's Team A in ECAC Rocket League on Mar. 15, the University of Southern Mississippi's Team 2 in NECC Rocket League on Mar. 16, and Marymount California University's Team 2 in NECC Valorant on Mar. 17. Upper Iowa looks to remain undefeated in NECC Overwatch competition against Hood College on Mar. 18 to wrap up the week. Live streams of the Peacock action can be found on
Twitch.tv/Peacock_Esports.
