KENOSHA – During the week of Feb. 16, Carthage Esports fired up its PCs for Spring 2026 NECC Week Three competition. As a program, the Firebirds finished 6-2, including stellar performances from four undefeated teams – Rocket League (Black and White) and Overwatch (Red and Black).
This article will analyze the performances of these teams: Valorant (Varsity and Club), Rocket League (Red, Black, and White), League of Legends, and Overwatch (Red and Black).
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage Valorant [Varsity] (3-1) vs. Cornell College Rams (2-1) [Division VI – Midwest A]
Score: Carthage 2, Cornell 0
On Monday, Feb. 16, Carthage Valorant [Varsity] competed in a best-of-three series vs. the then-unbeaten Cornell College Rams. Last week, the Firebirds secured a 2-0 series win (13-6 on Bind and 13-5 on Corrode) vs. North Dakota Black. Against Cornell, Carthage remained synergistic and clicked on all cylinders early and jumped out to a favorable round advantage on both Abyss and Breeze.
Carthage Valorant's roster includes junior captain Sergio Musaitef (Gio), junior Aiden Hecht (Hecht), senior Mady Savage (Bunny), sophomore Ryan Rivera (Righreanden), freshman Charlie Post (Opt1mal), and freshman Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish).
Unlike Weeks One and Two, the Firebirds competed on the Abyss and Breeze maps. Abyss is classified as an open-edge map, set in a subterranean base with no outer walls. Thus, it forces players to be mindful of deadly fall-off points, take advantage of extreme verticality, and dissect their strategy based on a three-lane layout. In contrast, Breeze is a larger, tropical-themed map known for its wide-open spaces, long-range sightlines, and intense mid-control fights. It contains a mechanical door in A-site, and a one-way chute from A-Hall to Mid. This map forces players to be aware of complex, rotate-heavy strategies.
Map One [Abyss / 13-4 Win]
Half One: Carthage started 5-1 on their attacking half. Throughout these rounds, the Firebirds demonstrated their highly strategic prowess. In Round One, Musaitef, Rivera, and Sullivan found their way into A-site with 30 seconds left. Subsequently, Sullivan planted the spike in a three-versus-four scenario. With Musaitef wiped, Rivera secured two Ghost pistol eliminations, and Sullivan eliminated two with a Classic pistol – including a one-versus-one clutch. This tone-setting round created a blueprint of momentum.
Another highlight came in Round Four, where Post and Sullivan were in a two-versus-two post-plant. Although Cornell player Phel wreaked havoc on Jett, Sullivan took them out while watching the outskirts of B-site. Next, Post used Hunter's Fury – an ultimate ability belonging to Sova - and prevented Cornell from defusing the spike. Sova's ultimate gives the player three long-range, wall-piercing energy blasts that damage enemies and reveal their locations.
Before their 5-1 moment, Rivera eliminated four Rams defenders while wielding the Phantom assault rifle and playing as Yoru, an agent known for his deceptive and stealthy kit. He came from Mid-Bottom all the way to B-Tower. To end the half, the Firebirds went 10-2. Musaitef secured the final kill while Post provided a distraction with Sova's Shock Dart ability.
Half Two: In Round 13, Carthage continued their Abyss dominance, controlling the middle portion. Post and Sullivan each recorded two pistol eliminations, while Musaitef found Cornell's Jose in Mid-Library to end the round. After two straight round wins for the Rams, Carthage dusted itself off in Round 16. Rivera guided his team with two eliminations in A-Tower to wash away the Rams' chance to win a third straight round. To end Map One, Post accumulated three consecutive eliminations from Mid-Bend – a few feet from B-site to force Cornell into an unprecedented situation. To confirm the victory, Hecht and Sullivan found the final eliminations.
Map Two [Breeze / 13-9 Win]
Half One: On its attacking half, Carthage finished 8-4. Along the way, they jumped out to a 5-1 lead at one point. A three-kill performance by Musaitef headlined Round One. Then, Sullivan, playing as Viper, collected two vital eliminations in Round Two, opening the door for Hecht to finish off the last Rams defender in B-site. Sullivan proved to be a vital piece once more in Round Five as she claimed the team's final elimination while guarding the spike inside Viper's Pit – a cloud of toxic mist.
Another highlight came in Round Six, when Musaitef, playing as Jett, dashed from B-Elbow into B-Main to eliminate Cornell's Mortified from defusing the spike. Thus, time expired, and Carthage won the round. En route to finishing 8-4, the Firebirds won three of the next six rounds. Cornell's use of Astra proved to be vital for them, as her abilities cut off Carthage's line of sight in a couple of rounds.
Half Two: After Cornell's statement win in Round 12, Carthage gave them a taste of their own medicine upon the role swap. In Round 13, Post and Musaitef tag-teamed the Rams' defense with Ghost pistols. The duo leveraged their positioning across A-Bridge and A-site. Musaitef's agility allowed him to get two eliminations. Meanwhile, Post played off his teammate for one pick and flanked two other Cornell defenders. In Round 14, Carthage's synergy would be showcased yet again. Hecht, Post, and Rivera blitzed Cornell as they planned to hard-rush into A-site.
To end the round, Hecht eliminated Phel – who teleported directly in front of Hecht – to force a 10-4 scoreline. A few rounds later, Rivera forced series point as he sniped two Rams defenders. Before concluding the series with a 13-9 Map Two win, Cornell tried to come back, winning four straight rounds. Round 22 came down to Cornell's Lamp and Rivera. Each player recorded three kills, but Rivera came up clutch and defused an A-site spike.
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Varsity]
- Ryan Rivera (Righreanden): 146 Kills / 96 Deaths [1.52 K/D], 32 Assists, Four Spike Plants
- Charlie Post (Opt1mal): 109 Kills / 97 Deaths [1.12 K/D], 35 Assists, 10 Spike Plants
- Sergio Musaitef (Gio): 106 Kills / 99 Deaths [1.07 K/D], 35 Assists, Five Spike Plants
- Aiden Hecht (Hecht): 90 Kills / 109 Deaths [0.83 K/D], 59 Assists, 10 Spike Plants
- Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish): 83 Kills / 85 Deaths [0.98 K/D], 48 Assists, 18 Spike Plants
- Mady Savage (Bunny): 12 Kills / 11 Deaths [1.09 K/D], Five Assists, Five Spike Plants
Some notable Week Three statistics include: Rivera (48 Kills / 25 Deaths – 1.92 K/D), Post (34 Kills / 23 Deaths – 1.48 K/D, Nine Assists, and Eight Spike Plants), Musaitef (32 Kills / 24 Deaths – 1.33 K/D), Sullivan (13 Assists, and 10 Spike Plants), and Hecht (Seven Assists, and Four Spike Plants).
Carthage Valorant [Varsity] (4-1, 9-3) will return on Monday, March 16, for an on-stream Week Seven best-of-three series vs. Bismarck State. Do note that Carthage has received a Week Five forfeit win from Carroll University White, as they will no longer be competing in Division IV – Midwest A. Also, Carthage Valorant (Varsity) has a Week Six bye. Lastly, the team's 2-1 win vs. Lakeland will be discussed in Week Four's article.
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage Valorant [Club] (2-1) vs. New Mexico State University (2-1) [Division IX – Group A]
Score: New Mexico 2, Carthage 0
On Monday, Feb. 16, Carthage Valorant [Club] returned for Spring 2026 NECC action alongside its Varsity counterpart. In Week Two, they took down Concordia Nebraska in a best-of-three series that included 13-8 Pearl and 13-10 Bind map victories. However, this week the Firebirds fell behind in Map One and then lost a close overtime in Map Two against New Mexico State University.
The Carthage Valorant [Club] roster contains senior Tanner Lee (Flare), junior Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), freshman Owen Perry (Kor), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka Himmy Prims).
Within this Week Three series, Carthage and New Mexico played on the Corrode and Abyss maps. Corrode is known for encouraging "old school" FPS mechanics, prioritizing precise aiming and optimal positioning over excessive reliance on abilities. It also does not contain mechanical hooks or rotating doors.
Map One [Corrode / 13-7 Loss]
Half One: In their defensive half, Carthage found themselves down 7-5. It started as a 2-0 lead when Gilchrist secured three-kill performances in Rounds One and Two, while playing as Omen. A few rounds later, Carthage found themselves tied 2-2 as New Mexico State's Kumi aced with a Phantom assault rifle. After Kumi's ace, New Mexico State kept itself at bay with Carthage and even broke out to a 5-3 lead. However, in Round Nine, Gilchrist, Perry, Prims, and Wade contributed to a stellar defensive performance. In A-Mid, Wade took down two players, while Gilchrist surveyed Mid Stairs.
Upon entering A-site, Gilchrist picked up another kill to force a three-versus-one advantage for Carthage. To allow Gilchrist room to defuse, Prims deleted New Mexico's last remaining player. Despite the minor setback, New Mexico held on to its round advantage, winning two straight to bring the score to 7-4. Before the first half ended, Gilchrist clutched up for his team once again. In a three-versus-three post-plant, Gilchrist, playing as Omen, walked through a cloud of smoke near New Mexico's spike, pulled out the Shorty shotgun, and destroyed New Mexico player Blade. Meanwhile, Perry and Lee ran interference, alleviating pressure and keeping New Mexico's defense in check.
Half Two: On attack, the Firebirds won only two of the next eight rounds. In Round 13, Perry, Prims, and Wade came away with eliminations thanks to a well-executed B-site rush. Perry collected two and planted the spike, Wade lit up the feed with two of his own, while Prims had the cherry on top. With 30 seconds left in Round 14, Perry tied the score 7-7 after sniping New Mexico's Blade immediately following Gilchrist's death. Unfortunately for Carthage Valorant [Club], New Mexico's defense kept its offense dormant. As a result, New Mexico won six straight rounds to close out Map One.
Map Two [Abyss / 15-14 OT Loss]
Half One: On attack, the Firebirds were overwhelmed by New Mexico's strategic ability usage and punishing flanks. Lee nearly clutched a one-versus-three to rekindle momentum. However, New Mexico found a way to stack six consecutive rounds together. A prime example of New Mexico's strategic game play was in Round Two. One player using the agent, Breach, deployed Molotovs and stunned multiple Firebird attackers. The remaining New Mexico players were disciplined and waited until the moment was right to wipe the field. By the half, Carthage battled and forced a 7-5 half, down by two rounds. To start a five-round win streak, Perry dangled on a rope near A-site to eliminate two New Mexico defenders. Meanwhile, Wade cleaned up the last player in A-site. From Round Eight to Round 11, the Firebirds continued their winning ways.
Half Two: Once again, New Mexico carved another round advantage with its biggest lead being 11-7 before overtime. In Round 19, the Firebirds started their comeback attempt. In A-Tower, Gilchrist surveyed the scene, deploying Astra's Cosmic Divide ultimate to cut off New Mexico's line of sight. Then, below, Perry secured one elimination, while Wade ripped through New Mexico's offense and recorded three. Round 20 offered a similar scenario. This time, Perry watched A-Tower and picked off one New Mexico attacker. To close out the round, Wade swung New Mexico player Nico after he was on fire from a Molotov launched by Prims. In Round 21, the Firebirds isolated Blade away from New Mexico's spike in a four-versus-one situation. Lee smoked off the entry into A site and successfully defused, while Perry found Blade.
Although New Mexico forced a match point upon Round 22's conclusion, Gilchrist turned into a monster. While in A-Tower, he picked off three defenders while holding tight angles. For his fourth elimination, he deployed a smoke cloud, jumped in with a Shorty shotgun, eliminated Nico, and defused the spike. To force overtime, Wade defused New Mexico's spike before their last offensive player could stop it. In overtime, Carthage won a single round to force a second overtime period. It came in Round 26 when Perry and Wade facilitated a spike defusal in A-site. Perry sat back and defused, while Wade put his body on the line against New Mexico player Kim in A-Main. Despite their efforts, New Mexico shut the door with two straight round wins, headlined by a Blade three-kill performance in Round 27, and great time drainage in Round 28.
Player Comments (Penn Gilchrist): "As a team that generally competes on game day only, I felt we fought well. The overall problem was that New Mexico State played much better than we initially expected. Despite this trend, we remain focused on winning out over the next four weeks and hopefully doing damage in the playoffs."
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Club]
- Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 124 Kills / 89 Deaths [1.39 K/D], 43 Assists, Eight Spike Plants
- Kaliek Wade (Akko): 115 Kills / 88 Deaths [1.31 K/D], 35 Assists, Four Spike Plants
- Owen Perry (Kor): 105 Kills / 83 Deaths [1.27 K/D], 29 Assists, 24 Spike Plants
- Tanner Lee (Flare): 110 Kills / 90 Deaths [1.22 K/D], 21 Assists, Two Spike Plants
- Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 47 Kills / 94 Deaths [0.50 K/D], 25 Assists, Five Spike Plants
Carthage Valorant [Club] (2-2, 5-4) will return on Monday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. CST for an off-stream Week Five best-of-three series vs. Minot State University. The team's 2-1 loss vs. Missouri State White will be covered in Week Four's recap.
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage RL Red (0-3) vs Northwood University Blue (3-0) [Division I – Group B]
Score: Northwood Blue 4, Carthage Red 2
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Carthage RL Red competed in NECC Division I action against Northwood University Blue, the reigning Division I champion from the Fall and Spring 2025 seasons. Even though Carthage Red fell to an unsettling 0-3 record, their determination remained evident. They forced three overtimes across the series and had the series in its grasp briefly. Compared to Week One, Carthage Red has drastically improved at adjusting to NECC Division I Rocket League.
Carthage Red's roster includes senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile), freshman Owen Perry (Kor), and freshman Kyle Branski (xray). For context, this trio took home the Fall 2025 Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC) Rocket League championship. Perry earned State MVP honors and was crowned champion alongside Branski and Vaile.
In Game One, Carthage Red battled back from a 1-0 deficit to earn a 2-1 overtime victory. To open the scoring within three minutes, Northwood's HockE was positioned on the right side of Carthage's net, lined up a midline pass, and Druee was there to slot the ball in. With nearly 40 seconds left of regulation, Perry forced a bounce off the left side wall. It landed perfectly for Vaile to score. However, he missed, and Branski was there to pinch the ball off Northwood's goalpost. While chaos ensued, Perry had an open lane to score and tie the game 1-1. After 35 seconds in overtime, Perry called the game and scored on a musty flick from midfield.
Game Two was a 5-3 Northwood Blue win. In the opening 20 seconds, Druee executed a perfect double-tap above Carthage's defense and read a favorable ceiling bounce to create a 2-0 lead. About six seconds later, Perry engaged in a one-on-one battle with Druee and double-jumped in front of him to force a goal for the Firebirds. At the halfway point, Perry demolished HockE, Vaile pinched the ball off a midfield wall, and drove it into the net to force a 2-2 tie. Next, Druee secured his hat-trick by soaring into the sky and aerialing over Perry and Vaile – 3-2 score. To increase its lead, Northwood forced a 4-2 score at the 1:32 mark when Druee and HockE combined for a goal. Before Creamz hit a buzzer-beater for Northwood, Branski found the net in hopes of giving his team a chance to come back.
Game Three opened with a double-commit by Northwood, allowing Branski to score at the 4:06 mark. To reach a 2-0 lead, Vaile zoomed toward midfield, passed the ball, and Branski launched a superb shot in Northwood's net with less than four minutes remaining. It took the Timberwolves until the 46-second mark to tie 3-3. Within this period, Creamz scored twice, and Druee hit another astonishing double tap. In overtime, HockE bumped Vaile inside Carthage's net, rotated out, then came back into the play to score off a pass by Creamz.
Game Four was a close 4-3 win for Northwood Blue. The common theme in this series was Carthage not giving up and making each game feel egregiously close. Northwood started with a kickoff goal from Druee after Creamz set him up with a great pass off the left side wall. In response, Perry set up a pass on Northwood's right goal post, and Branski came in to knock down the shot. Halfway into Game Four, HockE peaked for two crucial goals, taking advantage of Carthage's scrambled defense. Perry then scored with less than two minutes left to give the Firebirds a one-goal deficit – 3-2 – before HockE secured a hat-trick. With 50 seconds left, Branski forced a 4-3 score. However, Northwood milked the clock and won.
Game Five showcased Carthage's ability to extend the series beyond five games. The Firebirds won 5-3 in a spectacular showcase. Highlights included a Branski air-dribble in the opening five seconds and Branski slotting the ball in from a left-corner position to go up 2-0. Although Northwood tried its best to keep up with Carthage, Branski and Vaile ended with five goals combined. Lastly, Game Six prompted yet another classic between these teams. It came down to a 3-3 overtime. After battling for three minutes and 43 seconds, Creamz beat Vaile on a midfield jump ball and clinched the series for Northwood.
Player Comments (Alex Vaile): "Overall, we believe we played well and are quite proud to have kept the series as close as it was. A series like this, even though we lost, will be beneficial to our development as a team. Additionally, it will help Branski and Perry grow heading into next year."
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage RL Red
- Kyle Branski (xray): 11 Goals, Five Assists, 26 Saves, 42 Shots, 17 Demos, 26% Shooting
- Owen Perry (Kor): 11 Goals, Six Assists, 32 Saves, 49 Shots, 23 Demos, 22% Shooting
- Alex Vaile (Vaile): Seven Goals, Seven Assists, 27 Saves, 35 Shots, 10 Demos, 20% Shooting
Carthage RL Red (0-3, 3-12) will return Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 p.m. CST, for an on-stream Week Four, best-of-seven series vs. Davenport University Black (0-2, 3-8).
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage RL Black (4-0) vs Missouri State (1-3) [Division III – Midwest B]
Score: Carthage Black 4, Missouri State 1
Carthage RL Black, consisting of junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare), advanced to 4-0 during Week Three of the Spring 2026 NECC regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign forfeited its entire season, and the Firebirds beat Missouri State. Although Missouri State nearly forced a 2-2 series tie at one point, Carthage Black showed up when it mattered most to wrap things up in five games.
For Game One, Gilchrist scored all of Carthage's goals en route to a 3-1 victory. Lee assisted Gilchrist in the opening 20 seconds. Shortly after, Missouri State's Andrew OvO floated a pass to teammate Dryvzz to tie the score. Nearly 25 seconds later, Menzer provided Gilchrist with an opening to break the aforementioned 1-1 tie. Later on, Carthage Black kept Missouri State grounded to only four shots on net and one goal entirely. Gilchrist scored his third goal with roughly two minutes left in regulation.
Game Two prompted a defensive struggle until roughly two minutes in. Lee, on a solo play, hit paydirt to give Carthage Black an early lead. After one minute, Lee pressured Missouri State's net profusely until he scored a second time. Once again, the Firebirds' defense held Missouri State to fewer than five shots on net, en route to a 2-0 win. Game Three was the exact opposite as Missouri State won 2-0. They shut down Carthage Black with a combined seven saves on net.
Game Four prompted Menzer to have his signature moment – an overtime kickoff goal to provide his team with a 3-2 victory. Before that transpired, both teams traded goals back and forth. Within the first three minutes, Andrew OvO scored once for Missouri State, and Gilchrist scored twice for Carthage Black. To tie the game 2-2, Andrew OvO found Dryvzz for a clutch goal with roughly a minute-and-a-half to spare.
To wrap up the series, Carthage Black achieved a 5-1 Game Five victory. Despite being down 1-0 for about half the contest, the Firebirds rapidly scored five unanswered goals. A total of 16 shots were forced on Missouri State's net, a recipe for success. Menzer topped out with three goals on six shots, and Gilchrist complemented with three assists. Lastly, Gilchrist and Lee each scored one goal.
Player Comments (Tanner Lee): "MSU's team composition relies heavily on Andrew OvO to handle most of the work, as he is by far their highest-ranked player. These teams have a pretty simple answer, and we were able to adjust and execute it quickly. I'm immensely proud of the performances from my teammates Penn and Lucas. Penn, in particular, was balling. I think he thrives in scenarios where there is a single opposing threat because he can play fast and cut freely, which is his biggest strength. Overall, this team is feeling confident going into the rest of its season. I'm hoping to make a deep playoff run to cap off my time at Carthage."
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage RL Black
- Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 16 Goals, 11 Assists, 22 Saves, 54 Shots, 19 Demos, 30% Shooting.
- Tanner Lee (Flare): 16 Goals, 12 Assists, 28 Saves, 62 Shots, 21 Demos, 26% Shooting
- Lucas Menzer (Joystik): 15 Goals, 11 Assists, 26 Saves, 48 Shots, 30 Demos, 31% Shooting
Carthage RL Black (4-0, 16-5) will return Wednesday, March 4, at 8:30 p.m. CST, for an off-stream Week Five best-of-seven series vs. Missouri University of Science and Technology [MST] Gold. As a side note, the team will have a Week Four bye as Northern Illinois University has forfeited its entire season.
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage RL White (3-0) vs Indiana Hoosiers Cream [JV] (1-2) [Division IV – Central A]
Score: Carthage White 4, IU Hoosiers Cream 0
Carthage RL White, featuring senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper), made their first on-stream appearance during the Spring 2026 NECC regular season. In Week Three, the Firebirds took down the Indiana Hoosiers Cream in a close 4-0 sweep. For context, the Firebirds lost to this team 4-0 in Fall 2025 Division IV regular-season action. However, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Buchmann and Co. got over the hump.
In Game One, Carthage White held a one-goal lead for four-and-a-half minutes straight. In the opening 30 seconds, Hoosier player Hydra tried to carry the ball away from Wade. Instead, Wade forced a ceiling bounce, took the ball, and passed it down to the waiting arms of Buchmann, who scored. In the last 20 seconds, Wade fulfilled his defensive duties, knocking away shot attempts from Hoosier player GravyDavy.
Game Two ended with a 2-1 overtime victory for Carthage White. In the early stages, Hoosier player Chalky scored 14 seconds into the contest after GravyDavy collided with Wade. GravyDavy forced the ball to bounce off Carthage's left corner and into the waiting clutches of Chalky. With a little under two minutes remaining, Wade's attempt at a redirect was knocked into Indiana's left corner. In a flash, Buchmann rolled a pass perfectly in front of the Hoosiers' net, and Prims was there to score. The 1-1 tie dragged out into overtime. At the 30-second mark, Prims floated a pass from Carthage's half to Buchmann at midfield. Buchmann would then bounce the ball off Indiana's backboard and hit an earth-shattering double-tap.
Game Three belonged to Prims as he recorded a hat-trick. Wade contributed to his first goal by bumping a Hoosier defender. Buchmann contributed toward his second goal with a quick double-jump pass after taking contact from two Hoosier defenders. Immediately following his second, Prims secured his hat-trick with a pinch off the midfield wall. The ball soared past Indiana's defense as all members overcommitted.
Game Four prompted another dramatic overtime victory for Carthage White. Within the opening minute, Buchmann doinked a shot attempt off Indiana's goal, but Wade was there to make sure his team scored. With less than two minutes remaining, Hydra pinched the ball off Buchmann's car and set up a shot opportunity to Chalky, who angled the ball into Carthage White's net from the left side. In overtime, Wade raced past GravyDavy and then pinched the ball off Chalky's car to score the series-winning goal for Carthage White.
Post Game – Andrew Czysz Jr (TurbidJuggler) [Play-by-Play] interviewing Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17)
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage RL White
- Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 21 Goals, Nine Assists, 11 Saves, 46 Shots, 12 Demos, 46% Shooting
- Kaliek Wade (Akko): 13 Goals, 15 Assists, 19 Saves, 33 Shots, 28 Demos, 39% Shooting
- TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid): 13 Goals, 12 Assists, Nine Saves, 41 Shots, 17 Demos, 32% Shooting
Carthage RL White (3-0, 12-1) will return on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 p.m. CST, for an off-stream Week Four, best-of-seven series vs. the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Black.
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage League of Legends (2-1) vs. Mercyhurst University Lakers (0-3) [Division VI – East B]
Score: Carthage 2, Mercyhurst 1
On Thursday, Feb. 19, Carthage League of Legends (LoL) achieved its second-straight victory after starting the Spring 2026 NECC regular season with a 0-1 record. Although the team lost game one of three vs. Mercyhurst, the Firebirds adjusted accordingly and earned a 2-1 series win.
Carthage LoL's roster includes: Senior captain Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike), senior Gavin Johnson (Cahara), junior Christian Delgado (Bravo), sophomore Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato), sophomore Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22), and freshman Ian Saner (Toothless).
Game One (Mercyhurst – 27 E / 21 D / 69 A) vs. (Carthage – 21 E / 27 D / 50 A)
To open the series, Carthage and Mercyhurst battled in a near 43-minute contest. However, it ended in heartbreak for the Firebirds, who had a -6 kill differential and collected about 1,800 less gold than their opponent (80.1k to 78.3k). Despite this loss, Carthage showcased powerful production individually. One example was Owen Johnson, who once again performed well in his Bot Lane (ADC) position. Johnson recorded a 331 CS and 19,127 gold. This statistical insight demonstrates that he was vital to his team's farming efforts. Saner added a 6/3/10 KDA alongside nearly 17,000 gold. Lastly, Zeller went 3/5/10 with 297 CS to maintain beneficial farming habits. Although these metrics were good, Mercyhurst's late-game scaling proved to be decisive. In particular, Rain posted a stellar 385 CS and a game-high 21,883 gold. This, coupled with 69 assists, reflected the Lakers' ability to extend their teamfight layering, giving them a marginal coordination advantage.
Game Two (Carthage – 19 E / 14 D / 44 A) vs. (Mercyhurst – 14 E / 19 D / 25 A)
In Game Two, Carthage adjusted and forced a Game Three. En route to this feat, Zeller improved his KDA (7/2/6), recorded 290 CS, and raked in 17,530 gold. His early kill participation helped his team stabilize mid-game fights more easily. Once again, Johnson kept Carthage's farming business afloat, and tallied 368 CS coupled with 19,559 gold. Lastly, Saner added nine assists to keep Mercyhurst weakened in the midlane. Instead of 69 assists, the Firebirds held the Lakers to only 25 assists. Therefore, Zeller and Co. had cleaner engagement timing and objective control. Carthage dictated tempo, protected its carries, and prevented Mercyhurst from reaching its late-game prowess.
Game Three (Carthage – 18 E / 9 D / 25 A) vs. (Mercyhurst – 9 E / 18 D / 14 A)
To end this series, Carthage showcased its most decisive performance in Game Three. Alongside a +9 kill differential in comparison to Mercyhurst, the Firebirds accumulated nearly 11,000 more gold (54.3k to 42.8k) in only 26 minutes. Gavin Johnson heavily impacted Game Three as he posted 10 kills, two deaths, and two assists. Thus, Johnson provided early pressure opportunities. Next, Zeller shifted to a low-risk role where he practices wise positioning. Although he forced just one kill, he hauled in nine assists, suggesting that he poked a marginal amount of health away from Mercyhurst. Thanks to their versatile approach in Game Three, Mercyhurst was limited to 14 assists, a far cry from their Game One performance. What started as a competitive series turned into Carthage adjusting its teamfight structure and mid-game execution to close the series with authority.
Post Game – Robert Xiong [Coach/Director] interviewing Ian Saner (Toothless)
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Player Stats – Carthage League of Legends
- Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato): 41 Kills / 31 Deaths [1.32 K/D], 50 Assists
- Gavin Johnson (Cahara): 37 Kills / 22 Deaths [1.68 K/D], 40 Assists
- Ian Saner (Toothless): 27 Kills / 24 Deaths [1.13 K/D], 58 Assists
- Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike): 24 Kills / 25 Deaths [0.96 K/D], 63 Assists
- Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22): Eight Kills / 24 Deaths [0.38 K/D], 52 Assists
- Christian Delgado (Bravo): Five Kills / 14 Deaths [0.36 K/D], 21 Assists
Carthage League of Legends (2-1, 4-3) will return on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7:00 p.m. CST, for an on-stream Week Four, best-of-three series vs. Community College of Allegheny County (0-3, 1-6).
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage Overwatch Red (3-0) vs. Northern Illinois University [NIU] Huskies (2-1) [Division III – Central A]
Score: Carthage Red 3, NIU Varsity 0
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Carthage Overwatch Red, featuring junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc), junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), sophomore Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), sophomore Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig), and sophomore Adam Hollis (Hollister09), swept then-unbeaten Northern Illinois University, 3-0 in a rescheduled best-of-five series.
First, they played the Control game mode on Lijang Tower. Control is a game mode in which two teams compete to capture and hold one main objective, progressing from 0% to 100% in a best-of-three format. Lijang Tower is a three-stage Control map featuring three distinct segments inside a futuristic Chinese metropolis: Control Center, Garden, and Night Market. Control Center is an indoor, high-tech skyscraper floor with low walls and a large pillar. The Garden is an open-air area featuring a central point surrounded by a deadly moat. Night Market is densely positioned with flank routes through surrounding buildings and stalls. In the end, Carthage Red took a 2-0 victory on Control.
Next, the Firebirds traveled to Aatlis, a map characterized by its futuristic, night-time urban environment inspired by Moroccan architecture, featuring green roof tiles, horseshoe openings, and arabesque decorations. Also, it is smaller than other maps as it is directly tied to the Flashpoint game mode. Flashpoint is similar to Control, but competing teams aim to keep three out of five objectives for a shorter duration. With determination and will, the Firebirds bulldozed their way to a 3-1 Flashpoint win over the NIU Huskies.
Lastly, the Firebirds traveled to Blizzard World for Hybrid and secured a series-sealing 3-0 victory. Blizzard World is famous for its in-universe amusement park design, featuring Blizzard Entertainment's main franchises – Diablo, Hearthstone, StarCraft, and Warcraft. Overwatch's Hybrid game mode combines objective-based gameplay by requiring teams to capture a point (Assault) and then escort a payload (Escort) to a final destination. Attacks must capture a point to unlock the payload. Their goal is to move it through checkpoints to gain time, while defenders aim to prevent the progress.
Player Comments (Adam Hollis): "Going into the week we were looking for another win. We've practiced our comps and played out our strategies very well, and it showed throughout each map win. Looking forward to continuing in the following weeks!"
Carthage Overwatch Red (3-0, 9-0) will return on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. CST, for an off-stream Week Four, best-of-five series vs. the Wright State University Raiders (3-0, 9-0)
Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap – Carthage Overwatch Black (3-0) vs. Hagerstown Community College (0-3) [Division VIII – East B]
Score: Carthage Black 3, Hagerstown 0
To conclude our Spring 2026 NECC Week Three Recap, Carthage Overwatch Black defeated Hagerstown Community College [HCC], 3-0, in a best-of-five series. The competing roster included junior captain Ethan Anderson (Snowstorm), sophomore Ryan Rivera (Righreanden), freshman Chris Duffey (LitheCash), freshman Jenna Pillman (Jenny), freshman Alek Miech (Stewie), and freshman Jesse Ryburn (Krypic).
For Map One, Carthage Black took its talents to Ilios for the Control game mode. Ilios is a scenic Mediterranean map with three parts: Lighthouse, Ruins, and Well. The Lighthouse features a control point inside a small building surrounded by cliffs, favoring heroes who can knock enemies off the map. The Well features an open, sunken point with a deadly central pit. This stage is heavily contested by displacement heroes such as Lucio and Roadhog. Lastly, Ruins is an open, ancient, and high-ground-heavy, multi-lane map. Teams must have consistent control and smart positioning to avoid flanks. In the end, the Firebirds took a clean 2-0 win against HCC.
Next, Carthage Black competed on Colosseo for the Push game mode. Colosseo is a map characterized by its symmetrical design that mirrors each team's path. It primarily focuses on fast-paced fighting through narrow corridors, open areas, and high-ground vantage points. In Push, two teams compete to guide a robot across multiple checkpoints. The winning team is determined by the robot's meter distance over 10 minutes. To end Map Two, the Firebirds earned another victory over HCC.
To end their series, Carthage Black transitioned to the Hybrid game mode and claimed a 3-0 victory over HCC. The Firebirds competed on Eichenwalde. Eichenwalde is a Hybrid-specific map set in an abandoned German village near Stuttgart, featuring a medieval castle. There are three sections: Village, Bridge, and Castle. The Village holds Point A – where attackers start in a tavern and must push through a town street to capture it. Next, Eichenwalde's bridge serves as the main payload route, filled with environmental hazards (drops). Lastly, the final point is located in Eichenwalde's castle. Attackers must break through castle gates and battle in a tight indoor battleground.
Player Comments (Jesse Ryburn): "Carthage Black played exceptionally well, including huge plays from Alek and Ethan. This, among other factors, allowed us to earn a clean sweep vs. HCC – not losing a single map and fighting to the very end. Going forward, we will remain concentrated on improvement and keep our winning streak up. This coming week, we aim to have another excellent practice session that includes everyone adapting to the newly added heroes."
Carthage Overwatch Black (2-0, 6-0) will return on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. CST, for an off-stream Week Four, best-of-five series vs. The Concordia University Chicago Cougars (0-2, 1-6).
Carthage Esports continues Spring 2026 NECC Week Four livestreams with Rocket League on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and League of Legends on Thursday, Feb. 26. Weekly broadcasts will continue throughout the Spring 2026 NECC season, with Valorant on Mondays, Rocket League on Wednesdays, and League of Legends on Thursdays, including regular-season matches and applicable playoff coverage. Keep your eyes peeled for weekly recaps written by Andrew Czysz Jr.
Follow @carthageesports on all social platforms for updates, and follow the Carthage Esports Twitch channel here to receive notifications when broadcasts are live.
