KENOSHA – Between Friday, Feb. 27, and Thursday, March 12, all Carthage Esports teams except Valorant Varsity and Overwatch Black completed their Week Six National Esports Collegiate Conference [NECC] matches. All competing teams, Valorant Club, Rocket League (Red, Black, and White), League of Legends, and Overwatch (Red), finished 3-3 as a collective unit. Carthage RL White accomplished the best rebound performance, while League of Legends suffered its first loss since Week One.

Before we dive into the recap, Carthage Overwatch (OW) Black (3-2, 9-6) has reached third place in the Division VIII – East B standings. The team will play its Week Six match vs. Florida State University Black (1-4, 4-12) on Thursday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m. CST. Do note that this match will be off-stream.

Additionally, Carthage Valorant Varsity (4-1, 9-3) will return in Week Seven for a best-of-seven series vs. Bismarck State College (1-4, 2-8) tonight. Do note that this match will be livestreamed. The team has reached third place in the Division IV – Midwest A standings. For context, Carthage Valorant Varsity last competed in Week Four vs. Lakeland University (2-4, 7-8). Since then, the Firebirds obtained a Week Five forfeit win vs. Carroll University (0-6, 0-12) and a Week Six bye during spring break. 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage Valorant [Club] (3-3) vs. Valparaiso University (4-2) [Division IX – Group A]
Score: Valpo 2, Carthage Club 0

On Monday, March 2, Carthage Valorant [Club], following its Week Five series vs. Minot State White, competed in a best-of-three series against Valparaiso University. In Week Five, the Firebirds dominated Minot State White by earning a 13-3 Corrode win and a 13-4 Breeze win. Thus, Carthage Valorant [Club] reached a 2-0 victory and improved its record to 3-2.

However, the team ran into a brick wall against Valpo in Week Six. The Firebirds lost on Bind (13-2) and Corrode (13-5). Bind is a unique map with key features, including two main sites, A and B, connected by a teleporter system. This allows players to travel between different parts of the map. This layout encourages varied strategies, from aggressive pushes through narrow corridors to long-range duels on open sites. Corrode is a map characterized by its emphasis on "old school" FPS mechanics, prioritizing precise aiming and optimal positioning over excessive ability usage. It also does not contain mechanical hooks or rotating doors.

The Carthage Valorant [Club] Week Six competing roster included senior Tanner Lee (Flare), junior Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), sophomore Timothy Fendrick (Hvstl), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper), and Owen Perry (Kor). Fendrick competed in Map One, while Wade took over for Map Two.

With this Week Six loss (2-0) against Valpo, the Firebirds have dropped to fifth place in the Division IX – Group A regular season standings. Carthage Valorant [Club] owns head-to-head victories over these teams: Waynesburg (2-3, 4-7), Minot State White (1-5, 2-10), and Concordia University, Nebraska (0-5, 1-10). Their road to a playoff spot becomes murky as head-to-head losses have come against Valpo Esports (4-2, 9-5), New Mexico State Black (4-3, 9-7), and Missouri State White (4-3, 8-7).

Map One [Bind / 13-2 Loss]

To begin Map One, Carthage started on the attacking side. Although Gilchrist [Gekko] and Co. planted the spike in A site immediately, Valpo remained calm and claimed a Round One victory. Their defense isolated Carthage's attackers, who were guarding Gilchrist's plant. From here, Valpo stockpiled 10 consecutive round wins. Their defensive strategy was efficient and focused on maintaining a consistent man advantage. 

Although Perry [Vyse] and Lee [Raze] tried to get their team in the win column earlier, Valpo continued to clutch rounds. Perry secured three kills in Round Four before losing a one-versus-two post-plant. In Round 10, Lee, with about 40 seconds left, went from B-site to B-Garden on 18 health. As Lee turned to his right, Valpo player NinjaPanda [Sage] eliminated him with a Phantom assault rifle. Carthage's attacking half ended 11-1 after they secured a Round 12 victory courtesy of a three-kill performance from Lee and one kill each from Fendrick [Brimstone] and Perry. Perry, in particular, advanced past B-Elbow to wipe Valpo player Phoenyx [Skye] off the map.

On defense, the Firebirds only won one of the next three rounds. Valpo's 11-1 defensive advantage was too much for Carthage to overcome once it was their turn to play defense. In Round 13, the Firebirds earned their second-round win after Gilchrist picked off a Valpo player who played the agent Cypher. Before this occurred, Lee and Perry each secured one kill near the outskirts of B-site. Then, Prims took out two Valpo defenders. Thus, Gilchrist and Lee worked together to defuse the spike planted in B-site. 

For Rounds 14 and 15, the Firebirds nearly came away with a pair of one-versus-two clutches. Gilchrist attempted to push through B-Window in Round 14, eliminating Phoenyx, but was sniped by the Cypher player. Lastly, Round 15 ended with Perry attempting to enter A-site, but was immediately picked off by Phoenyx. Thus, Valpo earned a dominant 13-2 Map One victory.

Map Two [Corrode / 13-5 Loss]

For Map Two, Carthage started on defense. Although they were down at the half, 7-5, the Firebirds improved their performance compared to their attacking start on Bind. To open the map, Carthage jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In Round One, Gilchrist [Omen] and Lee [Waylay] combined for four kills (two each) as they shut down Valpo's entry into A-Yard, which connects directly into A-site on Corrode. Both players wielded the Ghost pistol, as in Valorant, every team starts with a pistol in the first round of a given half. In Round Two, Lee secured the opening pick. Then, Gilchrist and Prims [Fade] topped out with two kills each. Prims held A-Elbow with a Spectre SMG, and Gilchrist caught one in A-Yard and another in A-site. In the end, Perry [Viper] defused for Carthage.

Before Round Six, Valpo strung together three straight attacking wins to obtain a 3-2 lead. In Round Six, though, Lee came in clutch for Carthage. In a one-versus-one post-plant, Lee advanced from B-Lobby to B-Main shortly after Gilchrist and Perry were eliminated by Phoenyx. Lee's slow and steady pace proved to be enough as he caught Phoenyx looking away and blasted him. Then, Lee had more than enough time to defuse and force a 3-3 tie. 

After Round Six, Valpo claimed two straight rounds, and Carthage followed the same pattern to force a 5-5 tie. In Round Nine, Gilchrist and Perry did an incredible job of chewing clock to prevent an A-site plant by Phoenyx. Then, Round 10 was won by Wade [Yoru], who swung Phoenyx in B-Main after he failed to eliminate Perry, who looked to defuse. Additionally, Perry and Prims lit up the feed with two kills each. 

Unfortunately for Carthage, Valpo went on a hot streak once the 5-5 tie occurred. They closed out their attacking half 7-5, taking Rounds 11 and 12. Then, they proceeded to win six straight defense rounds. Once again, the Firebirds faced what looked to be an unsolvable Rubik's Cube.

Player Comments (Penn Gilchrist): "Overall, it was a tough series against Valpo. They were a solid team. As we prepare for an important Week Seven match against Southern Nazarene University, we need to improve our attacking execution and our ability to hold sites on defense efficiently. We hope to secure a victory to keep our playoff hopes alive. It will be challenging since we are facing the undefeated team in our pool."

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Club]

• Tanner Lee (Flare): 232 Kills / 178 Deaths [1.30 K/D], 45 Assists, Six Spike Plants, Seven Defuses 
• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 227 Kills / 188 Deaths [1.21 K/D], 85 Assists, 34 Spike Plants, Six Defuses
• Kaliek Wade (Akko): 208 Kills / 167 Deaths [1.25 K/D], 64 Assists, 11 Spike Plants, Six Defuses
• Owen Perry (Kor): 178 Kills / 170 Deaths [1.05 K/D], 61 Assists, 36 Spike Plants, Six Defuses 
• Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 94 Kills / 167 Deaths [0.56 K/D], 39 Assists, Seven Spike Plants, Five Defuses
• TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid): 25 Kills / 10 Deaths [2.50 K/D], 10 Assists, Six Spike Plants, One Defusal
• Timothy Fendrick (Hvstl): Five Kills / 15 Deaths [0.33 K/D], Nine Assists, No Spike Plants, No Defuses

Carthage Valorant [Club] (3-3, 7-6) will return on Monday, March 16, at 6:00 p.m. CST for an off-stream Week Seven best-of-three series vs. Southern Nazarene University (6-0, 12-0).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage RL Red (0-6) vs. Lesley University Black (3-3) [Division I – Group B]
Score: Lesley Black 4, Carthage RL Red 2

On Friday, Feb. 27, Carthage RL Red, including senior captain Alex Vaile (Vaile), freshmen Owen Perry (Kor), and Kyle Branski (xray), competed against Lesley University Black (3-3, 17-17). Despite another courageous effort, the Firebirds lost another 4-2 series.

With this loss to Lesley University Black, Carthage RL Red (0-6, 8-24) remains eighth in the Division I – Group B standings. Unfortunately, this Firebirds team is unlikely to make the playoffs given its current standing. Although this has occurred, RL Red has dominated the Midwest, winning three LAN events since October 2025: Red Cedar Rumble (Oct. 18, 2025), Wisconsin Esports Conference (WEC) Rocket League Championship (Dec. 7, 2025), and the Midwest Battleground Invitational (March 8, 2026).

Upon the conclusion of Games One and Two, the series was tied 1-1. Carthage took Game One 3-2, while Lesley claimed a 3-1 Game Two victory. For Game One in particular, Branski topped out with two goals on three shots. Next, Perry logged one goal, one assist, four saves, three shots, and two demos. Perry proved to be a valuable defensive anchor and a great offensive contributor. For Vaile, he recorded one assist. In Game Two, Lesley's Collat scored twice for his team on four shots and added two saves. Swazz scored the team's third goal on six shots. Additionally, he made three saves. For RL Red, Vaile scored the only goal on four shots. Despite the team amassing eight saves, it was not enough to stop Lesley's offense.

In Game Three, Lesley Black escaped with a 4-3 win after Dre mustered a hat-trick performance. Collat assisted two of Dre's goals, while Swazz recorded one goal and three saves. Branski scored twice for RL Red on four shots. Perry logged one goal, while Vaile contributed with one assist and two saves. Despite taking 15 shots on goal, Lesley only needed eight shots to demonstrate a quality-over-quantity mindset. Upon the conclusion of Game Four, RL Red tied the series 2-2. With immense pressure on them not to fall 3-1 in the series, the Firebirds clicked offensively. Branski led the way with two goals on four shots, with three saves. Perry scored one goal on two shots and added two crucial assists. Lastly, Vaile scored once himself and contributed three demolitions.

For Games Five and Six, Lesley Black came away with two straight victories (3-1 and 4-2, respectively), leading to their 4-2 series finish vs. RL Red. Leading the charge in Game Five was Collat, who scored two goals on three shots, while Dre was responsible for the other goal. For RL Red, Branski scored the lone goal, while Perry attempted to halt Lesley Black's offense with four saves on net. In Game Six, RL Red scored twice collectively as Perry and Vaile found their way into Lesley's net. However, Lesley Black used a demolition-heavy approach to their advantage. As a unit, they forced nine demolitions, four of them from Swazz alone, who led the lobby with two goals. 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Player Stats – Carthage RL Red

• Kyle Branski (xray): 26 Goals, 14 Assists, 52 Saves, 91 Shots, 32 Demos, 29% Shooting  
• Owen Perry (Kor): 26 Goals, 15 Assists, 74 Saves, 100 Shots, 40 Demos, 26% Shooting 
• Alex Vaile (Vaile): 21 Goals, 21 Assists, 42 Saves, 82 Shots, 26 Demos, 26% Shooting   

Carthage RL Red (0-6, 8-24) will return Wednesday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m. CST, for an on-stream Week Seven, best-of-seven series vs. Cleveland State Esports (1-3, 7-15).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage RL Black (6-0) vs. Central Methodist University [CMU] Eagles (4-2) [Division III – Midwest B]
Score: Carthage RL Black 4, CMU 0

On Tuesday, March 3, Carthage RL Black competed in an off-stream, best-of-seven series vs. the Central Methodist [CMU] Eagles. This match was scheduled before Week Five, as the Firebirds wanted to play CMU before spring break. Despite the change, RL Black showed up and took down the then-unbeaten CMU Eagles 4-0.

The team's roster includes junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare). With this sweep, RL Black (6-0, 24-8) has sole possession of first place in the Division III – Midwest B standings.

Game One ended in a 1-0 RL Black victory. Throughout the contest, Carthage forced 13 shots on net in comparison to CMU's seven shots. The Eagles' difference maker became Asher, who recorded five saves, anchoring the defense. RL Black was held scoreless for four minutes and 33 seconds. Even though CMU put on a defensive masterclass, the Firebirds clutched. Gilchrist found Menzer for a pass near CMU's net. Then, Menzer scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds left.

For Game Two, the Firebirds earned a 2-1 overtime victory. Once again, CMU showcased incredible heart on defense as Floofers accumulated seven saves. After some back-and-forth action, Asher hit paydirt on a solo play (1:07) to give the Eagles a 1-0 cushion. However, this was short-lived as Gilchrist found Lee for a game-tying goal around the two-minute mark. For the rest of the regulation, CMU did its best to cool down RL Black's offense. Within this roughly three-minute period, Floofers racked up five saves. In a one-minute and four-second overtime, Gilchrist came away with the game-winning goal off an assist from Lee.

With a 2-0 lead, RL Black did not lose sight of it. Game Three was a 3-1 victory. More specifically, the Firebirds mustered a 3-0 start, headlined by two Gilchrist goals (1:15 and 1:53), assisted by Menzer. To increase their lead to three, Gilchrist passed the ball off to Lee, who scored at the three-minute and 33-second mark. To prevent a shutout, Asher scored the team's only goal with a little over one minute left to play (3:47) off a pass from YoYoBroMan.

Lastly, RL Black took home a 3-2 Game Four victory. Within the opening seconds, Menzer scored a kickoff goal after Lee lined up a pass. Then, CMU found offensive success shortly after. Asher put the team on his back once again and scored two goals (1:40 and 2:25), one of them assisted by Floofers. Despite Asher's efforts, RL Black continued to stay the course and find favorable scoring opportunities. Lee scored off an assist from Gilchrist to tie the game 2-2 (2:52). Roughly a minute later, the same duo combined to help RL Black over the hump. Lee prompted Gilchrist with a nice pass. Then, Gilchrist quickly capitalized and scored (3:40). For the remainder of Game Four, the Firebirds held CMU to no goals. Thus, the team won its Week Six match, albeit a close four-game series.  

Player Comments (Lucas Menzer): "CMU was an interesting team. Every game in the 4-0 was quite close, but we managed to secure the clean sweep anyway. They were a respectable opponent and pushed us hard to earn the victory. With this win, Carthage RL Black stays undefeated in the NECC season, and we hope to finish the season undefeated with a win next week against Missouri Valley College."

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Player Stats – Carthage RL Black

• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr): 28 Goals, 18 Assists, 33 Saves, 100 Shots, 34 Demos, 28% Shooting 
• Tanner Lee (Flare): 24 Goals, 20 Assists, 41 Saves, 96 Shots, 35 Demos, 25% Shooting
• Lucas Menzer (Joystik): 20 Goals, 20 Assists, 39 Saves, 76 Shots, 38 Demos, 26% Shooting

Carthage RL Black (6-0, 24-8) will return Wednesday, March 18, at 8:00 p.m. CST, for an on-stream Week Seven best-of-seven series vs. Missouri Valley College (5-1, 22-10).

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage RL White (5-1) vs. the University of North Dakota [UND] Black Fighting Hawks (3-3) [Division IV – Central A]
Score: Carthage RL White 4, UND Black 1

On Wednesday, March 4, Carthage RL White, including senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper), completed its Week Six best-of-seven series against UND Black immediately following a Week Five loss (4-1) against Purdue White. 

Much like other Carthage Esports teams, most of them completed their Week Six matches early because of spring break. With their Week Six victory vs. UND Black (3-3, 17-17), RL White (5-1, 21-6) has maintained sole possession of first place in Division IV – Central A.

For Games One and Two, RL White held UND Black scoreless for 10 straight minutes. In Rocket League, each game has a five-minute timer (not including time spent in between scoring replays and kickoff countdowns).

In Game One alone, RL White recorded three unanswered goals. Wade scored a kickoff goal thanks to a valuable assist from Buchmann (0:09). For a long while, the Firebirds were stalled from scoring as UND Black kept getting good clears on defense. However, Buchmann scored the team's second goal after Prims supplied a brilliant pass (3:40). Lastly, Prims put the icing on the cake to secure a 3-0 Game One win. Game Two became a bloodbath in a hurry as RL White achieved an 8-0 victory. This performance was led by Wade, who scored five goals on 11 shots. Additionally, Prims scored two goals on six shots and provided three assists. Lastly, Buchmann scored once on three shots. 

In Game Three, UND Black retaliated with a 5-3 victory. The Hawks conjured up a 2-0 lead after Carvdogg (1:24) and McDRolla (2:37) scored. In response, Prims (2:54) and Buchmann (3:09) tied the game 2-2. Once again, Carvdogg and McDRolla gave UND Black yet another two-goal lead, this time 4-2, toward the latter stages. Additionally, Bentheflexer assisted both goals. Although Buchmann cut the Firebirds' deficit to 4-3, Bentheflexer scored an insurance goal for the Hawks.

Upon Game Four's conclusion, RL White reclaimed its momentum as it won 4-0. UND Black mustered eight saves as a team, but only forced four shots on the Firebirds' net. In contrast, the Firebirds recorded four times as many shots as the Hawks (16). This offensive dominance was headlined by Buchmann, who finished with three goals, one assist, one save, and five shots. Next, Prims secured a one-goal, one-assist, one-save, and eight-shot stat line. Lastly, Wade provided the team with two assists and became a focal point in the passing game.

To end the series, RL White fought hard to win Game Five in overtime. Within the first minute-and-a-half, McDRolla provided the Hawks with an early 1-0 lead after a nice solo play (1:37). It took RL White a long while to score as UND Black stifled its offense until the latter stages. The Firebirds' endurance proved to be a motivating factor once again. Prims scored the game-tying goal after Wade delivered a great pass to his teammate. Then, both teams engaged in a 52-second overtime. Toward the end, RL White proved they can be consistent offensively in a big moment as Wade scored the series-clinching goal off an assist from Prims. 

Player Comments (Kaliek Wade): "Our series vs. UND Black felt very back-and-forth with us running away with Games One and Two, and then UND coming alive in Game Three. I think this had to do with us recovering from our Purdue series, which took place right before this specific series. It was tough, even though we felt better overall than UND. Overall, we earned a great win against them, which goes to show how we can bounce back from immediate adversity."

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Player Stats – Carthage RL White

• Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17): 36 Goals, 23 Assists, 28 Saves, 90 Shots, 23 Demos, 40% Shooting
• Kaliek Wade (Akko): 30 Goals, 28 Assists, 39 Saves, 91 Shots, 43 Demos, 33% Shooting
• TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid): 25 Goals, 18 Assists, 26 Saves, 89 Shots, 34 Demos, 28% Shooting  

Carthage RL White (5-1, 21-6) will return Wednesday, March 18, at 6:00 p.m. CST, for an on-stream Week Seven best-of-seven series vs. the University of Michigan [JV] Blue (1-3, 13-15).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage League of Legends (4-2) vs. West Virginia University [WVU] Tech (4-2) [Division VI – East B]
Score: WVU 2, Carthage LoL 0

On Thursday, March 12, Carthage League of Legends (LoL) suffered an unfortunate 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Virginia University [WVU] Tech. This marked the Firebirds' first loss since Week One [2-0] vs. Kettering University. With this Week Six loss, Carthage LoL has dropped to fourth place in Division VI – East B. They sit behind WVU Tech (4-2, 8-5), Saginaw Valley State University [SVSU] Esports Red (5-1, 10-5), and Kettering University (6-0, 12-0).

The Carthage LoL roster includes senior captain Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike) [Mid Lane], senior Gavin Johnson (Cahara) [Top Lane], junior Christian Delgado (Bravo) [Support], sophomore Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato) [ADC/Bot Lane], sophomore Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22) [Support], and freshman Ian Saner (Toothless) [Jungle]. 

Game One (West Virginia – 22 E / 17 D / 50 A) vs. (Carthage – 17 E / 22 D / 35 A) [42:01]

In Game One, WVU Tech accomplished a 22-17 elimination victory despite excellent numbers from Carthage's carries. Owen Johnson [ADC/Bot Lane] posted a 7/4/3 stat line, 383 CS, and 19,408 gold. Next, Zeller [Mid Lane] added a valuable 3/3/8 performance with 299 CS, which provided needed stability to stay in this elongated Game One. Gavin Johnson [Top Lane] finished 3/5/6 with 256 CS. Saner [Jungle] posted a 1/5/8 stat line with 300 CS. These Creep Score (CS) numbers are determined by the number of minions and monsters eliminated. A high score means that a player can reach item power spikes faster, which offers a significant combat advantage over opponents, regardless of kills.
The Firebirds have been consistent in achieving excellent CS numbers throughout the season, regardless of the match's outcome. Delgado [Support] anchored the support role with 3/5/10, which meant he participated in 13 of Carthage's 17 kills. In the end, though, WVU Tech ultimately won the late-game fights behind Hilbert's dominant 12/3/7 performance, supported by Bean's 14 assists and Ninjaremover's 19 assists. With these exceptional contributions, WVU Tech had a great assist advantage over Carthage.

Game Two (West Virginia – 22 E / 22 D / 55 A) vs. (Carthage – 22 E / 22 D / 49 A) [45:05]

Game Two continued this ultra-competitive series between Carthage and WVU. This time, both teams fought for 45 minutes. Both teams finished with 22 kills, but WVU edged out Carthage through cleaner late-game teamfighting. WVU Tech's victory was headlined by consistent damage from players Breathless (7/2/9) and Hilbert (6/2/10), while Bean (16 assists) and Ninjaremover (14 assists) remained consistent pieces to the team's puzzle. A marginal six-assist difference was enough for WVU to just scrape by Carthage.

Although the Firebirds were defeated 2-0, it felt closer than that. Owen Johnson [ADC/Bot Lane] led Carthage's offensive pursuits again, with a 9/4/6 stat line and 396 CS in an effort to produce 20,804 gold – the lobby's highest total. Zeller [Mid Lane] added a 4/4/9 stat line with 340 CS to maintain lane consistency for most of Game Two. Next, Gavin Johnson [Top Lane] balanced out (4/4/11) with 329 CS, contributing to 15 kills, which matched Owen's efforts. Lastly, Saner [Jungle] posted a 4/5/10 stat line, and Delgado added a 1/5/13 stat line to lead the team in assists.

Across the two-game series, Carthage totaled 39 kills and 84 assists, highlighted by exceptional carry production from Owen Johnson (16 kills and 800 total CS), Zeller (7/7/17), and Gavin Johnson (7/9/17). These statistics suggest the Firebirds performed well in solo lanes and resembled fluent teamfighting. Saner finished 5/10/18 to provide consistent jungler involvement. Lastly, Delgado produced 23 total assists.

Despite this result, Carthage courageously fought WVU Tech, especially in Game Two, as both teams were tied in kills. Heading into Week Seven, Carthage LoL will look to translate their consistent farming numbers and teamfight presence into a win to ensure a playoff spot is clinched.

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Player Stats – Carthage League of Legends

• Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato): 80 Kills / 49 Deaths [1.63 K/D], 95 Assists [3.57 KDA]
• Gavin Johnson (Cahara): 71 Kills / 37 Deaths [1.92 K/D], 80 Assists [4.08 KDA]
• Ian Saner (Toothless): 56 Kills / 42 Deaths [1.33 K/D], 108 Assists [3.90 KDA]
• Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike): 49 Kills / 37 Deaths [1.32 K/D], 111 Assists [4.32 KDA]
• Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22): 12 Kills / 33 Deaths / 113 Assists [3.79 KDA]
• Christian Delgado (Bravo): Nine Kills / 24 Deaths / 44 Assists [2.21 KDA]

Carthage League of Legends (4-2, 8-5) will return on Thursday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m. CST, for a Week Seven, best-of-three series vs. SVSU Esports Red (5-1, 10-5).
 

Spring 2026 NECC Week Six Recap – Carthage Overwatch Red (6-0) vs. Akron Gold (1-6) [Division III – Central A]
Score: Carthage OW Red 3, Akron Gold 0

On Tuesday, March 3, Carthage Overwatch (OW) Red, featuring junior captain Mason Stenger (zXc), junior Joy Schultz (JumpyWizard), sophomore Billy Flanagan (ChickenFries), sophomore Deacon Kirvan (FerociousPig), and sophomore Adam Hollis (Hollister09), competed in Week Six action – three days before their regularly scheduled Week Five series vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering [MSOE]. To keep its undefeated record intact, the Firebirds earned a 3-0 victory over Akron Gold (1-6, 4-19).

With this Week Six victory vs. Akron Gold, Carthage OW Red (6-0, 18-0) holds sole possession of first place in Division III – Central A. Thus, the team is in excellent shape to clinch a high seed in the Spring 2026 NECC Division III – Central A Playoffs. The Firebirds aim to win their first Spring conference title. Since Fall 2023, Carthage OW Red has won two out of the last three Fall NECC conference titles (Dec. 7, 2023, vs. Purdue Steel (4-3 comeback win), and Dec. 2, 2025, vs. Middle Tennessee State University [MTSU] (4-1 victory).

In their series against Akron Gold, the Firebirds competed in the following game modes: Control, Flashpoint, and Push. Control is a game mode in which teams attempt to capture a point from 0% to 100% in a best-of-three format. To win the map, a team must capture two of three capture points. Flashpoint is similar to Control, but competing teams aim to keep three out of five objectives for a shorter duration. 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 winning team is decided by who has traveled the farthest.

For Map One, Carthage OW Red competed on Ilios, 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. After stifling Akron Gold, the Firebirds pulled away with a 2-0 victory.

For Map Two, the Firebirds took their talent to Aatlis, a Moroccan map inspired by the country's architecture and night-time urban environment. It features green roof tiles, hotshot arc openings, and arabesque decorations. Also, it is condensed compared to other open maps because it is exclusive to the Flashpoint game mode. Once Carthage OW Red settled into Flashpoint, they earned a 3-0 win vs. Akron Gold.

Lastly, Map Three took place in Colosseo, 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. To win in this game mode, teams must guide the robot over a longer distance than their opponent within 10 minutes. To conclude this series, Carthage OW Red won on Push because they traveled farther than Akron Gold.

Player Comments (Billy Flanagan): "The main takeaway from the game is that we had beaten them [Akron Gold] 3-0 in Fall 2025, and we have improved gradually since then. Essentially, it was no different this time in our 3-0 against them. Carthage OW Red has been practicing hard, and we're very comfortable with a wide range of compositions. This semester, I've been playing a lot more Tank with Deacon, swapping to DPS. However, we still alternate between the roles. Mason has done a great job on DPS, while Adam and Joy continue to add value to our team. With our given team compositions, I believe we'll have similar results this season in comparison to last season."

Carthage Overwatch Red (6-0, 18-0) will return Friday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. CST, for an off-stream, Week Seven, best-of-five series vs. Robert Morris University [RMU] Academy Red (1-3, 4-9). 


Carthage Esports will return for Week Seven livestreams with Valorant tonight, Rocket League on Wednesday, March 18, and League of Legends on Thursday, March 19. Additionally, Week Seven will be Senior Night for these individuals on their specific Gameday: TJ Buchmann (RL White), Gavin Johnson (League of Legends), Tanner Lee (RL Black), Alex Vaile (RL Red), and Quentin Zeller (League of Legends). Be on the lookout for the NECC Week Seven Recap article and social media updates to find out which Spring 2026 teams reach playoff qualification.