KENOSHA — For NECC Week Three, Carthage Esports went below .500 as Smash Bros and Rainbow Six suffered tough losses, while League of Legends fought hard to remain undefeated. Rocket League Red and White shared mixed results. Overwatch 2 Red dominated, while Overwatch 2 Black sustained another loss.

Matches took place during the week of Oct. 6. The only team that did not play during NECC Week Three was Carthage RL Black. Black had a Week Three bye within their Division IV — Midwst A stage. Junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joyystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare) are 2-0 on the season with 4-0 sweep victories against MST Silver [0-3] and the University of Nebraska Omaha [1-1]. While Carthage Black had their bye, let's analyze what has happened across the Carthage Esports wavelengths upon NECC Week Three's conclusion.

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Firebirds welcomed the No. 1-ranked team in Division III – Midwest B team, the Rockford University Regents. Carthage and Rockford duked it out in a best-of-three Smash Bros crew battle. In the end, Rockford claimed a 2-0 series win, staying atop the divisional stage. For the Firebirds, a brutal loss was coupled with a valuable learning experience, setting the stage for a stronger comeback next week. The Smash Bros roster includes: senior captain Connor Grubisic (Spacefood), junior Alex Chuluunbat (ParaMedix), sophomore Shannon Pasters (MintMelee), and sophomore Ryleen Preston (Ender14).

Smash Bros Crew Battle Explanation: Crew Battles are a team-based competition where two teams of players face off in a series of one-on-one matches. The losing player swaps with another teammate, and the winning player remains in the game, potentially facing a new opponent from the opposing team. The battle continues until one entire team runs out of stocks. Each team has four players, each carrying three stocks, for a total of 12. For a best-of-three series, the process repeats for each set played.

Set One:  Pasters (Banjo) lost all three stocks against Acrylixs (Sonic), who kept two, making it 11-9 Rockford. Preston (Zero Suit Samus) then beat Acrylixs, losing two stocks, with high mobility, aerial attacks, stuns, and an up-b. Preston, with one stock, faced a three-stocked Bowser, winning with a three-stock using side-b, stuns, and up-b, ending with a down spike near the left edge for a 7-6 Carthage win. Metallic (Dr. Mario) quickly eliminated Preston, tying the score at 6-6. He then took out Chuluunbat (Bowser) with minimal losses, leading 5-3, Rockford. Metallic battled Grubisic (Samus) in a close last-stock match, knocking him off the edge and winning for Rockford 4-0.

Set Two: Chuluunbat (Bowser) battled against Orcen5hire (Mii Brawler) and won the round, salvaging two stocks. Orcen5shire was attempting to suplex Chuluunbat on stage. However, Orcen5hire brought them both down below, and he died first due to downward momentum – 11-9 Carthage. Acylixs (Sonic) entered for the Regents and eliminated ParaMedix after shrinking the breathing room for his opponent's offensive spacing - 9-7 Carthage. Mintmelee (Banjo) made quick work of Acrylixs, who carried over one stock from the previous fight. 

However, Mintmelee coughed up one stock herself – 8-6 Carthage. Metallic (Dr. Mario) made his presence felt against Mintmelee, claiming both her stocks. Metallic showcased a strong ability to keep his opponents guessing with fluent combos, including a powerful up-air – 6-6 tie. Metallic battled Spacefood (Samus) and maintained control, losing one stock, but claiming all of Spacefood's stocks. Metallic performed more swift combos, including a spin move as an exclamation point –  5-3 Rockford. Ender (ZSS) faced Metallic in the final battle. Once again, the Firebirds could not adjust to Metallic's playstyle. The round ended with Ender slipping from the ledge. As a result, Rockford won the series 2-0.

Overall, Chuluunbat topped out with six stocks claimed with six falls. Preston had five stocks claimed and six falls. Grubisic had two stocks claimed with six falls. Lastly, Mintmelee had two stocks claimed and six falls.

[Player Comments: Alex Chuluunbat]: "Although we took a loss in the matchup, I think we could have executed better. However, I have to give credit to Rockford University for having solid players. My takeaway is that the team needs repetition against different fighters to adapt quicker."

Alex Chuluunbat (ParaMedix): 26 Stocks Claimed and 18 Falls

Rylee Preston (Ender14): 20 Stocks Claimed and 10 Falls

Connor Grubisic (Spacefood): 16 Stocks Claimed and 16 Falls

Shannon Pasters (MintMelee): 13 Stocks Claimed and 18 Falls

Carthage Smash (2-1) awaits an NECC Week Three Division III – Midwest B showdown against the Roosevelt University Lakers (2-1). A best-of-three series set to be streamed on the Carthage Esports Twitch channel on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 pm CST

Score: Arkansas State 2, Carthage 0

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Carthage R6, containing sophomore captain Samuel Bergamo (Scorp), sophomore Chris Vallee (Typhoon), sophomore Major Andrews (AirMajor), junior Aurelio "Rey" Trejo (Paltry), and junior Jalyn Green (Astro), competed against Arkansas State Black in a best-of-three match.

Rainbow Six Siege Explanation: Rainbow Six Siege is a five-versus-five tactical shooter where teams alternate between attacking and defending bomb sites. Rounds can be won either by planting/defusing the bomb or eliminating the opposing team. Success relies heavily on precise gun play, environmental destruction, and coordinated teamwork.

Map One (Border / 8-6 Loss): Carthage R6 entered the contest eager to hone their strategic bomb site setups for specific maps. With a young squad, communication and strategy are crucial. They started on defense, trailing 4-2 at the half. Early rounds saw Trejo using a C4 to eliminate Arkansas's xClutch in the bathroom while planting in Archives. Vallee then achieved a triple kill in Bathroom/Tellers, and Green secured the final elimination in the waiting room. Arkansas responded with three unanswered rounds, showcasing their adaptability through effective roam clearing and precise aim, which kept them ahead at halftime.

Once Carthage switched to attack, the game opened up. Bergamo secured a quadruple kill in Round Seven while pressuring Arkansas State at the second-floor Armory/Archives site. In Round Eight, Trejo achieved a quadruple kill, tying the score 4-4. During Round Nine, the Firebirds took out Arkansas State's roamers, allowing Andrews, Bergamo, and Trejo to gain ground in the second-floor offices above the Bathroom/Tellers site. With one defender left, Bergamo threw two flashbangs and a grenade that bounced off a wall in Tellers, leading to a crucial elimination. In Round 10, Bergamo prevented Arkansas State from planting the bomb, helping the Firebirds reach map point.

However, Arkansas State regrouped on defense, forcing an overtime at 6-6. They then extended their winning streak, ultimately stealing the map 8-6. Carthage had several chances to shift the momentum, but Arkansas State adjusted from Round 11 onward. On defense, they sealed off Armory/Archives, and on attack, they found ways to eliminate roamers and leverage their numbers advantage.

Map Two (Chalet / 7-0 Loss): After allowing four straight rounds to go Arkansas State's way, Carthage could not gain any momentum on Chalet. Although some rounds came down to the wire, the Red Wolves held strong on offense and defense – a tough sweep for the Firebirds to stomach. The biggest strength of Arkansas State was its ability to roam clear and catch Carthage off guard on defense. The loss was a heavy burden for the Firebirds, but it revealed what they need to improve on before Week Four.

Across both maps for Kills-Deaths, Bergamo went 19-17, Trejo went 18-14, Vallee went 8-18, Major went 7-18, and Astro finished 7-16. 

[Player Comments: Samuel Bergamo]: "Looking at the first map, it's clear we've been improving on the teamwork and communication. One thing to look forward to is maintaining that level of focus and teamwork throughout any of the maps that we play, no matter what our circumstances might be."

Samuel Bergamo (Scorp): 65 Kills / 42 Deaths (1.55 K/D), 16 Assists

Aurelio "Rey" Trejo (Paltry): 50 Kills / 40 Deaths (1.25 K/D), 16 Assists

Chris Vallee (Typhoon): 42 Kills / 45 Deaths (0.93 K/D), 17 Assists

Major Andrews (AirMajor): 26 Kills / 45 Deaths (0.70 K/D), Seven Assists

Jalyn Green (Astro): 24 Kills / 46 Deaths (0.57 K/D), 17 Assists

Carthage R6 (1-1) awaits an NECC Week Three Division IV – West Central B match against the University of Arkansas Black (1-2). A best-of-three series set to be streamed on the Carthage Esports Twitch channel on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 8:00 pm CST.

Score: UCSB 4, Carthage 3

Carthage RL Red, comprised of senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile), freshman Owen Perry (Kor), and freshman Kyle Branski (xray), entered with confidence after 4-0 sweeps against Texas A&M Maroon and Southeastern Oklahoma. However, the team hit a roadblock in Week Three. The University of California – Santa Barbara [USCB] gave Carthage Red a run for their money, winning 4-3 in a best-of-seven series, on Monday, Oct. 6. 

Game One was a narrow 3-2 win for Carthage. Vaile scored three goals and two saves, while Branski and Perry assisted their teammate and recorded two saves each. Next, UCSB would collect a 3-2 win themselves in Game Two. Although Carthage outshot UCSB 10-7, UCSB was sharper in its offensive execution and held the Firebirds back. Game Three saw Carthage Red take a 3-1 victory after Perry scored two goals while Branski and Vaile added one assist each. The team put up twice as many shots (eight) and twice as many demos (six) as UCSB.

Game Four saw Carthage go 3-1 in the series. Branski secured three goals for his team while Perry and Vaile added three assists collectively. This demonstrated the Firebirds' ability to maintain a potent offense early in this series. They outshot UCSB 12-5 this time. Game Five was a 4-3 win for UCSB. UCSB would find momentum by matching Carthage's shot output. Despite the game loss, Perry recorded two goals, Branski scored once, and Vaile assisted twice. Game Six was a 2-1 win to UCSB despite Carthage putting up 10 shots. Lastly, Game Seven was a 4-2 win for UCSB. The momentum shift in this series came from UCSB's ability to hold out on defense and limit Carthage Red's high-octane offense.

Carthage Red led in these major categories: Shots (67-66) and Assists (15-13). Carthage Red was outscored (18-17) and forced fewer demos (30) than IWU (32). Branski scored the most goals for Red with seven, followed by four assists, 11 saves, 19 shots, and six demos. Vaile followed with five goals, five assists, eight saves, 22 shots, and 12 demos. Perry finished with five goals, six assists, 15 saves, 26 shots, and 12 demos.

Player Comments [Alex Vaile]: "Overall, we were a bit disappointed with the result and felt like we should have been able to win that series. Things just didn't click as we wanted, but we are going to keep grinding to prevent these losses. We just have to learn from it and keep practicing to strengthen our team chemistry.  

Fall 2025 NECC Season Player Stats Through Week Three – Carthage RL Red
Kyle Branski (xray): 21 Goals, 15 Assists, 19 Saves, 54 Shots, 16 Demos
Owen Perry (Kor): 17 Goals, 15 Assists, 20 Saves, 51 Shots, 26 Demos  
Alex Vaile (Vaile): 13 Goals, 13 Assists, 17 Saves, 51 Shots, 18 Demos

Carthage RL Red (2-1) prepares for an NECC Week Three Division II– West Central A match against Simon Fraser University (1-2). It will be a rescheduled, off-stream, best-of-seven series on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9:00 pm CST.

Score: Carthage 4, IWU 0

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Carthage White generated a 4-0 sweep vs. CCIW rival Illinois Wesleyan University [IWU]. The team is comprised of senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17). 

Game One was a 4-0 win by outshooting IWU 12-5. Buchmann accumulated two goals, one save, four shots, and three demos. Prims and Wade scored a goal each. Game Two was a narrow 2-1 win for the Firebirds. Although it was closer, Carthage put up 13 shots on net in comparison to IWU's three shots. Prims and Wade found the net once each, while Buchmann notched an assist and forced six shots on net. Additionally, the team allotted 11 demos, forcing IWU at a man disadvantage on defense. 

Game Three was another 2-1 Firebird victory, mirroring Game Two as the team forced 10+ shots on IWU's net. Buchmann and Prims scored, while Wade recorded an assist, two saves, six shots on net, and three demos. Lastly, Carthage White finished the series off with a decisive 2-0 win. The combination of efficient offense and shutout-forcing defense achieved this result. Buchmann and Prims found the net, while Wade recorded an assist and two demos.

Carthage White led in these major categories: Goals (10-2), Assists (6-1), Shots (41-15), Demos (30-20). Prims led the way with four goals, no assists, three saves, 11 shots, and nine demos. Buchmann finished with four goals, two assists, one save, 15 shots, and nine demos. Lastly, Wade recorded two goals, four assists, seven saves, 15 shots, and 12 demos.

[Player Comments: TJ Buchmann]: "We felt great coming out of our scrimmage vs. Minnesota State, the best team in our conference. With that momentum, we believed in ourselves to go out there and beat Illinois Wesleyan, who were winless. An extra fire was inside because this felt like a real school rivalry, with two CCIW teams going at it. We played exceptional defense and outpressured them [IWU] heavily. It was a nice rebound after dropping a game last week to the Indiana Hoosiers Cream, against whom we underperformed. For next week, we are putting in extra work as we take on ISU White." 

Fall 2025 NECC Season Player Stats Through Week Three – Carthage RL White

Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 10 Goals, Five Assists, 26 Saves, 34 Shots, 16 Demos

Kaliek Wade (Akko): 10 Goals, 10 Assists, 26 Saves, 44 Shots, 29 Demos

TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid): 10 Goals, Seven Assists, Five Saves, 49 Shots, 28 Demos

Carthage RL White (2-1) prepares for an NECC Week Three Division IV– Midwest A match against Illinois State University White (0-2)—an off-stream best-of-seven series on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6:00 pm CST.

Score: Carthage 2, SMSU Gold 1

Carthage League of Legends (LoL), comprised of senior captain Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike), senior Gavin Johnson (Cahara), junior Christian Delgado (Bravo), sophomore Owen Johnson (Owenthepotato), sophomore Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22), sophomore Michael Pankratz (Fuhzzee), and freshman Ian Saner (Toothless), faced the Southwest Minnesota State University [SMSU] Mustangs Gold on Thursday, Oct. 9, in an off-stream best-of-three series.

League of Legends Game Explanation: League of Legends (LoL) is a popular 5v5 MOBA game where two teams of players control champions to destroy the enemy nexus (base), by earning gold and experience to gain power. Players choose unique champions with different abilities to accomplish these goals. Unique champions help defeat minions, enemy champions, and destroy towers to control the map and secure victory.

Game One: To begin the series, Carthage defeated SMSU in a highly contested 34:37 contest. As a team, the Firebirds accumulated 23 eliminations, 15 deaths, and 46 assists. Owen Johnson led the way with a KDA of 12/5/5 and added a 319 creep score. Johnson had the most final hits against minions and/or jungle monsters. The 12 eliminations demonstrated Johnson's ability to rip through the Mustangs, creating space for his team. Gavin Johnson went 6/0/5 with a 307 creep score—yet another Firebird who positively impacted Carthage's ability to farm and stay on track. Zeller went 3/2/5 with a 250 creep score. Rieckmann and Pankratz combined for 31 assists; 15 and 16 each, respectively. Outgaining SMSU 46-29 in assists meant that Carthage embraced great teamwork on all fronts.

Game Two: SMSU would then flip the script on Carthage to force Game Three. As a team, the Firebirds fell short of their desired results. They recorded seven eliminations, 27 deaths, and only 15 assists. In comparison to Mustangs Gold, they accumulated 27 eliminations, seven deaths, and a whopping 49 assists – a one-sided affair that ensured the Firebirds were facing a formidable opponent. Delgado and Saner subbed in for Gavin Johnson and Zeller. However, the composition of Gavin and Owen Johnson, Delgado, Saner, and Rieckmann was unable to gain an upper hand.

Game Three: Pankratz and Zeller would re-enter the series for Carthage. As a result, the Firebirds were able to recapture previously established momentum to earn a 2-1 series win. The team topped out with 28 eliminations, nine deaths, and a whopping 53 assists. SMSU managed only nine eliminations, 28 deaths, and 11 assists. In Game Three, Carthage outgained SMSU in assists to a greater extent than what was seen in Game Two, when roles were reversed. Three Carthage players recorded 10+ assists. Pankratz secured 20, Rieckmann hauled in 13, and Gavin Johnson accumulated 10. Owen Johnson led the team with 14 eliminations. Lastly, two Carthage players recorded creep scores above 230 – Owen Johnson (232) and Gavin Johnson (254).

Owen Johnson (Owenthepotato): 82 Kills / 37 Deaths (2.22 K/D), 66 Assists, 244 AVG Creep Score

Gavin Johnson (Cahara): 38 Kills / 22 Deaths (1.73 K/D), 63 Assists, 223 AVG Creep Score

Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike): 37 Kills / 25 Deaths (1.48 K/D), 78 Assists, 197 AVG Creep Score

Michael Pankratz (Fuhzzee): 30 Kills / 14 Deaths (2.14 K/D), 88 Assists, 188 AVG Creep Score

Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22): 12 Kills / 42 Deaths (0.29 K/D), 129 Assists, 28 AVG Creep Score

Ian Saner (Toothless): 5 Kills / 11 Deaths (0.45 K/D), 12 Assists, 146 AVG Creep Score

Christian Delgado (Bravo): 1 Kill / Four Deaths (0.25 K/D), Four Assists, 168 AVG Creep Score

Carthage LoL (4-0) awaits an NECC Week Five Division VII– West B match against Kansas State IV—an off-stream best-of-three series on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 pm CST. Information on Carthage's 2-1 Week Four win against Concordia Nebraska will be highlighted in the NECC Week Four Recap. That match was moved from Thursday, Oct. 16, to Saturday, Oct. 11 due to fall break.  

Score: Carthage 3, Akron Gold 0

Carthage Overwatch 2 Red faced Akron Club Gold in a rescheduled, on-stream best-of-five series on Monday, October 13. Junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc), junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), sophomore Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), sophomore Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig), and sophomore Adam Hollis (Hollister) earned a 3-0 victory. 

Overwatch 2 Game Explanation: Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play, 5v5, team-based hero shooter where players pick a unique hero with distinct abilities and roles (Tank, Damage, or Support) to complete specific objectives-based game modes (Control, Escort, Hybrid, Push, Flashpoint). The core gameplay involves a team-focused brawl, where cooperation and strategy are essential to win.

Map One (Ilios / 2-0 Control Win): Control revolves around two competing teams fighting to capture an objective from 0% to 100% without interference, under a best-of-three format. Carthage began its night with a defiant showcase of excellent teamwork. Within a few minutes, Firebirds Red took the first control point with relative ease. Round Two proved to be a more challenging fight. Akron Gold had 65% captured before Flanagan and Co. won its first team fight. Carthage would capture 66% of the objective before Akron successfully retook it, increasing their share to 99%. However, the Firebirds held firm and snatched the objective and never looked back, winning Round Two after fending off Akron's attack.

Map Two (New Queen Street / 128.06m – 50.63m Push Win): Push is a game mode where two teams fight to push a robot that moves a barricade to the enemy's side of the map. The winner is decided by which team can go past the barricade past the final objective first, or which team has the most distance as time expires. After a resilient sweep in Control, Carthage played the Push game mode on New Queen Street. Within the first couple of minutes, Akron and Carthage engaged in a tug of war with the robot. Each team had multiple team fights that went their way. When push came to shove, though, the Firebirds grasped full possession of the robot. From six minutes and five seconds to four minutes and five seconds, Carthage went from 40.41m to 128.06 m and won the game.

Map Three (Watchpoint Gibraltar / 1-0 Escort Win): The Escort game mode involves both teams taking turns moving and defending a payload objective. On attack, the goal is to move the payload through checkpoints within a given time limit. The defensive goal is self-explanatory: prevent the payload's movement. Carthage ended their night with a 1-0 Escort win. Akron was only allowed 82.50m of payload distance. Kirvan and Stenger shut the door by combining Wrecking Ball's minefield with Freja's bola shot. This combination forced Akron to be isolated and pushed away from the payload as time expired. Within a minute and twenty seconds on attack, the Firebirds ripped through Akron's defense. Kirvan, using Reinhardt, would clobber three defenders in a corner, then proceed to hit the shatter ultimate to eliminate Akron's Reinhardt. Carthage would then coast into victory.

Carthage Overwatch 2 Red (2-0) awaits an NECC Week Three Division IV– Central A match against Illinois Institute of Technology's Scarlet Hawks (1-1). It will be a streamed best-of-five series on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 pm CST.

Score: MTSU 3, Carthage 1

After a tough loss vs. Purdue Azure, Carthage Black dusted itself off to prepare for battle once more, in a streamed, best-of-five series on Friday, Oct. 10, against the MTSU Bolts. The roster contains junior captain Ethan Anderson (Snowstorm), Alek Miech (Stewie), Chris D (Lithecash), Jesse Ryburn (Krypic), Jena Pillman (Jenny), and Waylon Ritter (Odessarit). Despite taking the series to four games, Firebirds Black suffered a 3-1 loss and dropped to 0-2 on the season.

Map One (Lijang Tower / 2-0 Control Loss): Similar to last week, Firebirds Black started on Lijang Tower for the Control game mode. In Round One, Black got up to 27% before losing possession to the Bolts. MTSU held the objective to 95% before Carthage dashed in quickly and won a team fight. After increasing the percentage to 82, Firebirds Black lost a critical team fight, which led to MTSU capitalizing and taking the first point. Round Two was a lopsided MTSU win as they held the point from 0% to 100% without giving up a possession to the Firebirds.
 

Map Two (Hollywood / 3-2 Hybrid Loss): Carthage Black took its talents to Hollywood. The Hybrid mode requires attacking to capture an objective, unlock a payload, and then drive past checkpoints. Defenders must stop both. On attack, Anderson and Ryburn secured key picks, helping Firebirds Black win a team fight and unlock the payload. With 1:30 left, Carthage advanced to the first checkpoint, gaining 30 seconds to reach the final one. Despite efforts, MTSU held firm, moving only 67.44 meters to the third checkpoint. MTSU pushed towards it, using effective spacing and ultimates. Before passing Carthage, an MTSU hero, Ana—who has a sleep dart—hit Ryburn, trying to initiate Reinhardt's shatter. 

Map Three (Esperança / 132.76m - 104.96m Push Win): With a 0-2 deficit, Carthage Black opted to play Push on the Esperança map. MTSU maintained its momentum from Map Two, holding the robot for approximately two minutes and ten seconds. The Bolts were able to reach 104.96m. For the next seven minutes, Firebirds Black scratched and clawed to get a distance of 132.76m. Carthage won gutsy team fights thanks to stellar teamwork. For the last two minutes, Carthage Black held out on defense to extend this best-of-five series.

Map Four (Rialto / 1-0 Escort Loss): Firebirds Black were motivated after a thrilling Map Three victory. Carthage Black was overwhelmed on attack, mustering only 80.15m and zero points. This meant MTSU would only have to cross 80.15m to win. With a relentless offense, the Bolts put the finishing touches on the series, winning 3-1.

[Player Comments: Jesse Ryburn]: "MTSU was a great challenge, even though we couldn't get a win, but we were able to make a comeback in Map Three Push on Esperanca, coming back from a considerable distance deficit with winning one map. We look forward to the challenge of ISU on Friday.

Carthage Overwatch 2 Black (0-2) awaits an NECC Week Three Division IX– Central A match against Illinois State University (2-1). It will be an off-stream best-of-five series on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:00 pm CST.

Dates for OW2 Red and Black Week Four matches may be changed due to fall break approaching.

Carthage Esports returns tonight, Oct. 14, to begin NECC Week Four matches. Follow us on all social media platforms (@carthageesports) to stay updated. Follow our Twitch channel to get notifications when broadcasts go live. Additionally, Carthage's NECC schedule is viewable here, so you can always catch up on what teams are competing weekly during the Fall 2025 season.