KENOSHA – On Wednesday, April 1, Carthage Esports finished its Spring 2026 National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Quarterfinal matches. In all, these teams punched their ticket to a semifinal appearance: Valorant, Rocket League (RL) Black, and Overwatch (OW) Red. Meanwhile, RL White, League of Legends (LoL), and OW Black suffered defeat. As a whole, Carthage Esports went 3-3 during the first round of NECC playoffs.

Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinals Recap – No. 3 Carthage Valorant [Varsity] vs. No. 6 Governors State University [GSU] Jaguars [Division VI – Midwest Playoffs]

Score: Carthage 2, GSU 0 

On Monday, March 23, Carthage Valorant took on No. 6 GSU Jaguars (4-2, 9-5) in a quarterfinal match within the Division VI – Midwest Playoffs bracket. In Week Seven, the Firebirds battled against Bismarck State (1-5, 2-10), who became trouble early in Map One Split. Despite this trend, Carthage rallied back from an 11-5 deficit with a concise attacking strategy. Then in Map Two, the Firebirds led 8-7 on their defensive half and won five consecutive rounds thanks to incredible teamwork. 

The Carthage Valorant 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). 

In the regular season, Carthage finished with a 5-1 Overall and 11-3 Map record. These metrics held the Firebirds secure second place in the Division VI – Midwest A standings. Furthermore, Carthage secured the No. 3 seed because Division VI – Midwest A rival, Minot State Red (5-1, 11-3), matched their record and had a Week One head-to-head victory over them. Lastly, Drury University posted a 6-0 overall record to be the only undefeated team across Division VI – Midwest.   

Against the GSU Jaguars, the Firebirds competed on Bind and Abyss in sequential order. 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.

[Map One / Bind 14-12 OT Win]

Half One 
In Map One's first half, Carthage started on defense, while GSU started on the attacking side. Thanks to superb efforts from both squads, the first half ended in a 6-6 tie. However, Carthage would ride into the second half with valuable momentum. 

The Firebirds began with a 2-0 lead. In Round One, Rivera [Skye] and Post [Viper] were engaged in a two-versus-three post-plant against GSU. Rivera was perched above the A-site balcony, while Post positioned himself near the A-site teleporter. In a flash, Post took out Spiderman [Neon] and Ghostly [Waylay] after Rivera was picked. To approach the planted spike, Post used Viper's "Snake Bite" passive ability to create space. Although GSU player Pika launched a Molotov as Brimstone, it missed, and Post accurately shot him with a Ghost pistol. To ice the round, Post defused GSU's spike just in time, with only one second to spare. Round Two ended with Hecht [Gekko] collecting four total eliminations on GSU with a Stinger SMG. In A-site, he picked apart EggRoll [Viper] and MaJik [Skye], who both lined up outside of a toxic mist wall. Then, Hecht would turn to his right and gun down Pika.

GSU would then proceed to take a 3-2 after a few methodical attacking rounds. To tie the score, Carthage defended A-site well as Musaitef [Waylay] and Hecht secured one opening pick each. Then, Savage [Brimstone] found Pika in the center of A-site and gunned him down with a Phantom AR. Musaitef then eliminated Spiderman to protect Savage. Lastly, Savage obtained her second kill by spotting EggRoll in A-site. The Firebirds went up 4-3 after Musaitef and Savage prevented Majik from entering A-site. Although GSU used a tactical timeout to smooth things out, Carthage took Round Eight after forcing Majik into another one-versus-two situation. This time, Rivera picked them off from A-Tower. 

From Round Nine to 11, GSU went on a run to go up 6-5. It included a Ghostly one-versus-one clutch against Hecht in Round Nine, a near flawless Round 10, and a four-kill performance from Majik in Round 11. In Round 12, Hecht would shine under the primetime lights once more. With 30 seconds left, the Firebirds faced a three-versus-five situation. GSU opted to rotate in B-site and took out Post and Rivera. After Pika picked off Musaitef, it was up to Hecht and Savage to make a play. While Savage anchored B-site, Hecht subsequently killed Spiderman and EggRoll near the A-teleporter. As Hecht finished his four-kill performance, he defused GSU's spike with plenty of spare time.    

Half Two

In the second half, Carthage switched to the attacking side, while GSU took its turn on defense. After the role swap, the Jaguars went on a streak of four consecutive round wins, leading 10-6. The Firebirds' comeback began in Round 17 after Rivera and his team cleared out GSU at B-site. With so little time left, Ghostly had no option but to abandon his B-site position. After a successful A-site plant from Hecht, Rivera, and Post picked apart GSU's scattered defense in Round 18. Next, Round 19 was yet another A-site plant that overwhelmed GSU's defense. The Firebirds got GSU to surrender after EggRoll was picked from A-Tower by Savage. Majik and Pika were scrambled in the defender spawn and had no time to contest the planted spike. It started with an unexpected quick peek in B-Window before Carthage decided to rotate into A-site.

In Round 20, Carthage secured a flawless round, headlined by a teleporter elimination by Post against Spiderman and an exquisite quick-peek by Musaitef against Majik in B-Window. Thanks to two early picks, the Firebirds planted in B-site with relative ease. In all, Post recorded three kills. In Round 21, Post used Viper's toxic mist to his advantage as it threw off GSU in A-site. As a result, Post and Co. picked apart the Jaguars one by one. Lastly, Round 22 came down to a three-versus-one post plant in which Savage planted in A-site, and Post secured the final elimination on EggRoll. On match point, Carthage could not close the map. Instead, GSU fought back hard and forced a 12-12 overtime. In Round 23, Majik achieved a three-kill performance as they rotated behind Carthage in B-site. To force overtime, Ghostly eliminated Savage in a three-versus-one post-plant in A-site.

Upon entering overtime, the Firebirds aimed to keep fighting and gut out a Map One victory. Their hopes were fulfilled after a pair of excellent rounds. In Round 25, Post and Musaitef clutched a two-versus-three post-plant situation. After Spiderman planted the spike for GSU, Musaitef immediately headshot him from A-Tower. Musaitef, positioned next to the A-teleporter, had exceptional trigger discipline and took out Ghostly in a flash. To end the round, Musaitef found Pika on the outskirts of A-site, and Post defused the planted spike. Carthage then secured a 14-12 Map One win after a great Round 26 performance. Rivera accumulated three kills before his elimination. Hecht and Musaitef hunkered down in A-site and waited for Pika to approach them. Then, Pika launched a smoke cloud and entered A-site in hopes of defusing Carthage's spike. However, Musaitef came from behind to secure the map's final kill. 

[Map Two / Abyss 13-4 Win]

Half One

To begin Abyss, Sullivan came in for Savage, Carthage started on the attacking side, and GSU went on defense. In the opening half, the Firebirds walked away with a 9-3 lead before switching to defense.

Similar to Map One Bind, Carthage jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In Round One, Post [Sova], recorded four kills with a Classic pistol. His last pair came against Pika [Sova] and Spiderman [Neon]. Pika attempted to go for the spike, but was quickly picked off. Spiderman tried to run away, but Post found him to secure the win. Next, the Firebirds forced Majik into a one-versus-four post-plant after Rivera [Yoru] fried Ghostly [Waylay] and Spiderman in B-site. Hecht [Breach] was credited with the final elimination as he found Majik outside of B-site. From here, Carthage extended its lead 4-1. 

Then, GSU called a tactical timeout to discuss their approach. However, the timeout did not immediately help as the Firebirds snowballed to an 8-1 lead. To cement this margin, Hecht and Post left Spiderman in A-site as they rotated to B-site, planted the spike, and won Round Eight. In Round Nine, Carthage made a B-site rotation again to deceive GSU. After Rivera was picked by EggRoll [Cypher], Hecht waited patiently for either EggRoll or Spiderman to defuse the spike. Hecht's Pink Panther sneak worked to perfection as he annihilated them both with a Vandal AR. After this, GSU strung together two solid defensive round wins, cutting their deficit to 8-3. To cap off the first half, Rivera clutched a one-versus-one against Majik [Astra] in A-site. Upon the conclusion of an eight-person shootout, Majik aimed to add a fourth round kill. However, Rivera took high ground as he positioned himself on top of a crate and sprayed Majik with his Vandal AR.

Half Two
At the role-swap, Carthage moved over to defense, while the GSU Jaguars returned to the attacking side. Here, Carthage went on to win four of the next five rounds.

In Round 13, Musaitef [Cypher] was forced into a one-versus-three situation in A-site. After Rivera was taken out, Musaitef became opportunistic and picked off EggRoll from A-Tower. Then, Musaitef hit a crispy headshot on Pika. To win the round, Musaitef exited A-Tower, dropped down, and fired his gun first to ensure he killed Majik. A five-versus-two situation spelled doom for GSU as Carthage took a Round 14 victory. EggRoll and Ghostly had swiftly entered A-site to plant. However, their lives expired quickly as Sullivan [Omen] killed EggRoll, while Rivera sniped Ghostly. In Round 15, Musaitef and Rivera each had two kills as they defended A-site. To seal the round, Sullivan once again stepped up to ensure the Firebirds were on track. 

With a 12-3 match point, Carthage was close to victory, but GSU thwarted them by winning a three-on-two post-plant against Hecht and Post. Pika, in particular, was the last Jaguar alive after Ghostly and Majik were scrapped. Pika had exceptional trigger discipline and wasted enough time to ensure the Firebirds could not defuse the spike. In Round 16, Carthage ended the series on a flawless round as they did not allow GSU into the B-site. Hecht and Rivera collected two eliminations, while Post added one himself. Thus, Carthage advanced to the semifinal to take on No. 1 Drury University.      

Post Game – Timothy Fendrick (Hvstl) [Play-by-Play] interviewing Aiden Hecht (Hecht)

Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season + Quarterfinal Player Stats – Carthage Valorant [Varsity]

• Ryan Rivera (Righreanden) 
  • Reg. Season: 236 Kills / 178 Deaths [1.33 K/D], 52 Assists, Four Plants, Five Defuses
  • Quarterfinal: 29 Kills / 29 Deaths [1.00 K/D], 15 Assists, One Plant, No Defuses 
• Charlie Post (Opt1mal) 
  • Reg. Season: 219 Kills / 167 Deaths [1.31 K/D], 73 Assists, 34 Plants, Nine Defuses
  • Quarterfinal: 53 Kills / 25 Deaths [2.12 K/D], 12 Assists, Five Plants, One Defusal
• Sergio Musaitef (Gio) 
  • Reg. Season: 176 Kills / 174 Deaths [1.01 K/D], 64 Assists,  Seven Plants, Seven Defuses 
  • Quarterfinal: 35 Kills / 29 Deaths [1.21 K/D], 12 Assists, Five Plants, One Defusal
• Aiden Hecht (Hecht) 
  • Reg. Season: 156 Kills / 187 Deaths [0.83 K/D], 89 Assists, 20 Plants, Six Defuses 
  • Quarterfinal: 37 Kills / 27 Deaths [1.37 K/D], Eight Assists, Six Plants, One Defusal
• Thalia Sullivan (Jellyfish) 
  • Reg. Season: 146 Kills / 139 Deaths [1.05 K/D], 81 Assists, 29 Plants, Four Defuses 
  • Quarterfinal: 10 Kills / 11 Deaths [0.91 K/D], Four Assists, No Plants, No Defuses*
• Mady Savage (Bunny)
  • Reg. Season: 28 Kills / 28 Deaths [1.00 K/D], 12 Assists, Six Plants
  • Quarterfinal: 12 Kills / 18 Deaths [0.67 K/D], 15 Assists, Two Plants, No Defuses*

* Savage played Map One Bind, while Sullivan stepped in for Map Two Abyss.

No. 3 Carthage Valorant [Varsity] will return for an on-stream Division VI – Midwest Championship best-of-five series vs. No. 5 Cornell College Rams on Monday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. CST. One of these teams will be crowned Spring 2026 Division VI – Midwest Champions. Carthage Valorant aims to win its second consecutive Spring NECC title, dating back to April 7, 2025, when they defeated Robert Morris University by a 3-2 score. The team's 2-0 semifinal victory vs. No. 1 Drury University on Monday, March 30, will be discussed in the next recap.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinal Recap – No. 1 Carthage RL White vs. No. 8 Kansas State University [KSU] Wildcats [Division IV – Central Playoffs]

Score: KSU 4, Carthage RL White 2

Carthage RL White, featuring senior captain TJ Buchmann (Blasecupid), sophomore Kaliek Wade (Akko), and freshman Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17 aka ThePrimReaper), faced No. 8 KSU Wildcats on Wednesday, March 25. Despite their spirited comeback efforts, the Firebirds suffered a crushing loss at the hands of KSU. This team had manifested a deep playoff run. However, KSU played their hearts out as an underdog No. 8 seed.

Upon the conclusion of Spring 2026's NECC regular season, RL White secured a 6-1 Overall and 25-6 Game record. With these metrics, the Firebirds obtained first place in the Division IV – Central A standings and the No. 1 seed in the Division IV – Central Playoffs. In all, RL White took the No. 1 seed from Missouri State University [MSU] Maroon, as they only had a 5-1 Overall and 23-7 Game record in Division IV – Central B. Heading into this quarterfinal match vs. No. 8 KSU Wildcats, the Firebirds knew they would be a tough opponent despite the seed disparity.

In Game One, the KSU Wildcats (AlienTechno, Giwro, and Moon) earned a 2-1 overtime victory. Within the opening minute, Moon cleared the ball away from KSU's right wall, Giwro went up the right sideline to demolish Wade and gather the ball near RL White's net. In a flash, Giwro centered the ball for AlienTecho, who then scored following a missed clear from Prims (4:16). On the ensuing kickoff, Moon took the ball in KSU's half as he attempted a ground pinch. 

However, it would be a bad decision as Buchmann raced in at full speed to pierce a shot into KSU's net to tie the game 1-1 (4:08). For the last four minutes in regulation, both teams played stellar defense and took good shots on offense. However, no team scored in those four minutes. Within one minute of overtime, KSU significantly pressured RL White's net. An initial pass from Giwro to Moon over the goal line caused the Firebirds to scramble on defense. Although Prims got a squishy save, Giwro stopped the ball in its tracks and let AlienTecho win a 50/50 against Wade on the goal line to win (+1:04).

KSU kept their momentum for Game Two as they earned a 3-1 win. After a brief defensive struggle, the Wildcats found a way to generate a score as Giwro dropped a shot into the Firebirds' net off a backboard pass from AlienTechno (3:31). After this goal, RL White responded quickly as Prims went down the left sideline, and he flicked the ball into KSU territory. In the left corner, Wade took over and doinked the ball off KSU's crossbar. As the ball floated above the goal line, Buchmann flew in and hit a bar-down shot above Giwro and Moon (3:07). Toward the latter stages, KSU once again pressured RL White on offense. This time, AlienTechno demolished Buchmann in the left corner, which opened the door for him to race to the right side, center the ball in front of RL White's net, and have Moon score as Wade was caught off balance (1:24). Before time expired, KSU found a third goal. As Wade prepared to clear AlienTecho's right-wall pass, he misjudged the read, and Moon gingerly touched the ball into RL White's net (0:28).

Game Three showcased RL White's ability to shift momentum as they won 3-0. The Firebirds' first goal came at the 3:50 mark. Wade pierced the ball off AlienTechno's car as he raced up the right sideline. Then, Prims soared in the air and performed an exquisite air-dribble past Moon, who aimed to defend KSU's net. Nine seconds later, Buchmann placed himself on the scoreboard. Prims was lined up on the right sideline and pinched the ball off AlienTechno and Giwro. As a result, the ball violently bounced off the right wall and floated above KSU's net. Buchmann became a sniper at the goal line and scored to put RL White up 2-0. The last goal came after Wade raced past all of KSU as they overcommitted on offense at the 3:24 mark. Although KSU had the offensive tendency to force a 4-0 sweep, RL White took advantage of their opponents' weakness of overcommitting at the wrong times. For the last three minutes, RL White did not allow a KSU score.

Game Four ended in a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory for KSU, and heartbreak for Carthage. At one point, KSU got itself up 4-1. To start, Giwro passed the ball from the right sideline, and Moon quickly scored on the goal line (4:33). Once again, KSU found success on the ground to throw off the Firebirds. Next, Giwro launched himself in the air, got past Buchmann, and forced Prims to make an awkward backboard read. As a result, Giwro collected his own rebound shot and forced a 2-0 lead (4:24). Wade then scored for the Firebirds after finding a seam during the ensuing kickoff (4:22). However, Moon recouped KSU's two-goal lead as he air-dribbled the ball past Prims, who was caught in no man's land (3:45). Moon secured his third goal roughly a minute later as he put up a difficult shot for Wade to save (2:34). 

To start RL White's Game Four comeback, Wade hit a pinball-like double tap on KSU's net (2:23). At the 1:45 mark, Wade facilitated a pass to Prims off KSU's left wall that went above the crossbar. In response, Prims found an angle to score (1:45). To tie the game 4-4, Buchmann launched a deep clear to midfield, where Prims redirected the ball into KSU's net (0:21). Despite a valiant effort, KSU found a way to win in overtime. Buchmann attempted to clear an oncoming 50/50 ball from Giwro. However, he tapped it off his right corner, which bounced back on the goal line, and AlienTechno was there to score (+1:45).  

In Game Five, RL White found a way to win 1-0 and cool down KSU's offense. To score the lone goal, Buchmann, who was positioned at midfield, passed the ball backwards to Prims. Then, Prims softly whacked the ball upward, and it gingerly bounced into KSU's net (3:57). AlienTechno missed an easy goal line read, while Moon flew past the ball as he left the backboard. Although KSU forced 13 shots total on RL White's net, Wade recorded four saves, while Buchmann and Prims had two each.  
  
Unfortunately, the KSU Wildcats spoiled Carthage RL White's comeback 3-2 in a Game Six overtime victory. The Firebirds opened with a goal at the 4:11 mark as Wade set up a goal-line pass for Prims. KSU retaliated quickly after taking advantage of an awkward clear from Prims. Moon read the clear, bounced the ball off RL White's goalpost, and left it for Giwro, who scored as AlienTechno bumped Prims and Wade (3:52). After some time, KSU flipped the field on RL White immediately after Buchmann attempted to recenter the ball. Moon soared off his backboard and carried the ball to Carthage's net and dropped down a pass for Giwro, who scored a wide-open goal (3:13). The Firebirds' second goal came after AlienTechno missed an open-net as Giwro passed the ball to him. In desperation, Wade launched a deep clear directly toward KSU's net. Then, Prims hit a double-tap on KSU's right goalpost to tie the game 2-2 (1:19). For the remainder of regulation, both teams attempted to score but became unsuccessful. In overtime, RL White fought hard to set up a play. However, KSU's goal-line defense would shine when it mattered most. The Wildcats got into rhythm near the two-minute mark. Buchmann attempted to cut off a ground pass from Giwro. However, he didn't get the best touch, and AlienTechno scored on a rebound shot with Prims just fingertips away from saving the ball (+2:03). Thus, KSU completed the upset. 

Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season + Quarterfinal Player Stats – Carthage RL White

• Jimmy Prims (ItsSlurp17) 
  • Reg. Season: 36 Goals, 26 Assists, 32 Saves, 96 Shots, 27 Demos, 38% Shooting
  • Quarterfinal: Six Goals, One Assist, 13 Saves, 17 Shots, Eight Demos, 35% Shooting
• TJ Buchmann (Blase)
  • Reg. Season: 33 Goals, 21 Assists, 26 Saves, 104 Shots, 41 Demos, 32% Shooting 
  • Quarterfinal: Three Goals, Four Assists, 13 Saves, 16 Shots, Eight Demos, 19% Shooting
• Kaliek Wade (Akko)
  • Reg. Season: 30 Goals, 32 Assists, 43 Saves, 105 Shots, 47 Demos, 29% Shooting 
  • Quarterfinal: Three Goals, Five Assists, 13 Saves, 15 Shots, Nine Demos, 20% Shooting 

Carthage RL White will continue their Midwest Collegiate Rocket League (MCRL) season, which will include a potential LAN appearance during the weekend of Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Additionally, the Firebirds will find out if they qualify for NECC Division IV Nationals based on points from Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. Stay tuned for social media updates on which Carthage Esports teams make NECC Nationals.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinal Recap – No. 2 Carthage RL Black vs. No. 7 Durham College Lords Esports [Division III – Midwest Playoffs]

Score: Carthage RL Black 4, Durham 2

Carthage RL Black, including junior captain Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr), junior Lucas Menzer (Joystik), and senior Tanner Lee (Flare), competed against No. 7 Durham College (Lords) Esports in a rescheduled Division III – Midwest Quarterfinal series on Wednesday, April 1. Although Durham came to play, RL Black delivered in the clutch to shatter their Game Seven hopes. This match was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, at 8:00 p.m. CST. However, Durham College hosted its own Esports Banquet, which triggered the reschedule.

Upon the conclusion of Spring 2026's NECC regular season, RL Black earned a 7-0 Overall and 28-10 Game record. Using these metrics, the Firebirds secured first place in the Division III – Midwest B standings and earned the No. 2 seed in the Division III – Midwest Playoffs. RL Black was given this seed solely because Indiana Tech B (7-0, 28-6) had the better Game Differential. Thus, Indiana Tech B claimed the No. 1 seed and was on the opposite end of Division III's Midwest Playoffs bracket. Lastly, this could mean that RL Black might need to beat Indiana Tech B if they reach the championship.
In Game One, RL Black gathered a 3-1 victory to set the series' initial tone. Although the Durham Lords (Cressy, Ed, and J) attempted to come back, the Firebirds kept scoring. Within the first 15 seconds, Cressy was challenged to clear the ball away from Durham's half. As he performed the maneuver, his touch was soft, and Menzer was centered in front of Durham's net and flicked the ball over Ed and J (4:42). RL Black's second goal came at the 0:46 mark after they kept a 1-0 lead. Lee perched himself above Durham's crossbar and passed the ball downward to Gilchrist, who defiantly scored. The Firebirds knocked on the Lords' door for a third goal before time expired. Lee bounced the ball off Durham's right goalpost, which set up Gilchrist to hit a go-ahead fast aerial into the net (0:36). Cressy then prevented a shutout with 17 seconds left as he air-dribbled from the left wall and pinched the ball off Gilchrist's car.

Then, Durham walked away with an opportunistic 1-0 victory in Game Two. The Lords struck first as Gilchrist and Lee had a miscommunication at midfield as to who would force the ball into Durham territory. As a result, Ed sent the ball flying near RL Black's net, where J made himself open and drained a shot (3:07). For the remainder of regulation, the Firebirds dialed up passing play left and right. However, the difference was Durham's ability to make a good, clear, and flip the field to force Carthage into awkward defensive positions. None of them succeeded, and Durham held on to win.

Game Three was a 4-2 victory for RL Black. To start, Lee popped the ball out to Gilchrist, who rotated in as third-man to secure an early 1-0 lead (4:35). Within the next minute, RL Black found the "X" on the treasure map once more to go up 2-0. Menzer, who was positioned on the right sideline, air-dribbled the ball past Cressy and J. Then, Gilchrist centered himself in front of Durham's net and banged in a shot (3:24). About 20 seconds later, the Lords cut their deficit to one as Cressy executed a swift double-tap center and J scored as Gilchrist was caught in an awkward defensive position (3:04). To increase the lead to two, Gilchrist hauled in a right field pass from Menzer, and proceeded to hit a tight-angle shot from left field into Durham's net (1:13). Before time expired, each team would score once. Gilchrist scored his third goal on a fast break as Lee demolished J in transition (0:38). Finally, Cressy scored once as the Firebirds overcommitted (0:11).

Game Four concluded with a signature 4-3 overtime victory for RL Black. Lee played a major role in this win, scoring all four goals. His first came at the 3:44 mark after reading a nice ground-pinch from Menzer, who launched the ball into Durham's right corner. Lee instinctively slotted the ball underneath Cressy to score. On the ensuing kickoff, the Lords tie the game 1-1 after Ed pierced the ball off Menzer's car. At this point, Gilchrist and Lee were pushed up too far to make a save (3:40). Later in the contest, Durham took the lead as Cressy carried the ball past midfield and sent it down to J, who then flicked the ball in Carthage's net (2:13). 

With 20 seconds left in Game Four, Gilchrist cut in front of Ed as he attempted to clear the ball away from Durham's half. As Gilchrist was successful, Lee came in from behind to deliver a bar-down goal. Then, the Lords halted the celebration as they took a 3-2 lead with eight seconds left as J set up a backboard read for himself. Luckily for the Firebirds, their magic did not run out as Menzer got the ball past Cressy on the left wall. Lee watched as the ball skipped toward Durham's net, and he forced it in to tie the contest 3-3. In overtime, Lee rose once again and double-tapped the ball into Durham's net to secure the win.

On series point, Durham found a way to win Game Five by a 3-2 score to stay alive. To open Game Five, J bulldozed his way through the Firebirds net as he 50'd the ball past Gilchrist and Menzer (4:15). In response, Menzer created a solo-play as he bounced the ball off Durham's right wall, and read his own rebound to slice through the defense (3:51). Although RL Black tried to prevent a second Durham goal, Ed put the finishing touches on it. Menzer inadvertently hit the ball in front of the net, and Ed was there to make a play for the Lords (3:04). Durham then went up 3-1 as J set up a midfield pass, Ed faked out the defense, and Cressy launched the ball into RL Black's net (1:58). To make things interesting, Gilchrist made the score 3-2 with five seconds left. However, it was not enough to come back in Game Five. 

To wrap up the series, RL Black secured a 3-2 overtime win in Game Six. Once again, Durham gathered an early goal advantage. In the opening 20 seconds, Cressy won a 50/50 ball against Menzer and passed it upfield to Ed, who was positioned on the right side of Carthage's net. He proceeded to snipe the ball from a tight angle into the net (4:40). Nearly three minutes later, the Firebirds evened the score as they capitalized on a Cressy turnover at midfield. Cressy and J attempted a demo play, but it did not materialize. 

As a result, Lee stole the ball and immediately passed it to Menzer, who scored on an open net (2:08). Ed's second goal came at the 1:54 mark as he dribbled the ball past Menzer. With less than a minute to go, RL Black executed a triple-play to force a 2-2 tie. Gilchrist drove up Durham's right wall to give Lee the ball. Then Lee bounced it off the ceiling, and Menzer read the bounce underneath to score (0:58). To win in overtime, Lee pinched the ball from Cressy's car toward Durham's backboard, where Menzer opportunistically positioned himself on the ground to score a series-winning goal (+1:03).   

Post Game – Andrew Czysz Jr (TurbidJuggler) [Play-by-Play] interviewing Lucas Menzer (Joystik)

Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season + Quarterfinal Player Stats – Carthage RL Black

• Penn Gilchrist (Pixlr) 
  • Reg. Season: 36 Goals, 24 Assists, 41 Saves, 123 Shots, 54 Demos, 29% Shooting
  • Quarterfinal: Seven Goals, One Assist, Nine Saves, 17 Shots, Eight Demos, 41% Shooting 
• Tanner Lee (Flare)
  • Reg. Season: 29 Goals, 26 Assists, 40 Saves, 115 Shots, 43 Demos, 25% Shooting
  • Quarterfinal: Four Goals, Eight Assists, Six Saves, 18 Shots, Nine Demos, 22% Shooting
• Lucas Menzer (Joystik)
  • Reg. Season: 24 Goals, 21 Assists, 47 Saves, 92 Shots, 52 Demos, 26% Shooting
  • Quarterfinal: Five Goals, Six Assists, Eight Saves, 25 Shots, 20% Shooting

No. 2 Carthage RL Black will return for an on-stream Division III – Midwest Semifinal best-of-five series vs. No. 6 Central Methodist University [CMU] Eagles tonight, Wednesday, April 8, at 8:00 p.m. CST. The winning team will advance to the Division III – Midwest Championship against either No. 1 Indiana Tech B (7-0, 28-6) or No. 4 Missouri Valley College [MVC] Vikings (5-2, 24-14) on Wednesday, April 15, at 8:00 p.m. CST.


Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinal Recap – No. 3 Southern New Hampshire University [SNHU] Patriots vs. No. 6 Carthage League of Legends [Division VI – East Playoffs]
Score: SNHU 2, Carthage 0

Carthage LoL, featuring 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], competed in a Division VI – East Quarterfinal series vs. the SNHU Patriots on Thursday, March 26. Despite their best efforts, the Firebirds were eliminated from the playoffs.

Upon the conclusion of Spring 2026's NECC regular season, League of Legends finished with a 5-2 Overall and 10-5 Game record. These metrics became enough to secure third place in the Division VI – East B standings and the No. 6 seed throughout the Division VI – East Playoffs.

In the Quarterfinals, SNHU delivered a clinical 2-0 performance against Carthage where they leveraged superior objective control and late-game scaling to secure the series. Despite competitive gold totals from the Firebirds, the Patriots' ability to convert leads into decisive teamfight victories proved to be the difference-maker in both contests.

Game One (SNHU – 23 E / 10 D / 54 A) vs. (Carthage – 10 E / 23 D / 24 A) [34:47]

In Game One, the Patriots earned a 23-10 victory, as they stifled the Firebirds' offense and built a significant 69,807 to 54,742 gold advantage. SNHU were led by a dominant performance from Chipper as Varus, who finished with a massive 12/2/8 stat line and a game-high 359 CS, amassing over 20,000 gold. BigBear and Opheas provided excellent setup, contributing 10 and 18 assists respectively to keep the Firebirds on defense. Carthage fought to stay in the match behind Owen Johnson, who posted a respectable 6/5/3 stat line with 275 CS, generating 15,337 gold. However, the rest of the Firebirds struggled to find their footing against the Patriots' frontline. Gavin Johnson and Zeller were held to a combined one kill, as SNHU's Mattdaboss anchored the map with eight assists and consistent pressure.

Game Two (SNHU – 24 E / 20 D / 48 A) vs. (Carthage – 20 E / 24 D / 47 A) [34:56]

Compared to Game One, Carthage showed increased resilience in Game Two, more than doubling their kill count. However, the Firebirds fell 24-20 in a back-and-forth battle. The Firebirds narrowed the gold gap to roughly 8,000, with Owen Johnson (6/6/5) and Zeller (5/4/7) finding more impact in teamfights. Saner and Delgado facilitated the improved offense, combining for 25 assists to keep Carthage within striking distance for much of the mid-game. Despite the Firebirds' surge, the Patriots' carries owned the late-game once again. Chipper repeated his stellar performance with another 12/2/10 showing, while Iqtorunitdown bounced back significantly with a 10/3/8 performance on Veigar, which provided burst damage to close out Game Two. SNHU's coordination was on full display as they totaled 48 assists, ensuring that even when Carthage found picks, the Patriots could trade back effectively.

Despite the loss, Carthage had a few great individual performances. First, Gavin Johnson maintained the highest efficiency on the team with a 3.00 KDA. A strong Game Two performance (4/3/10) helped him achieve this feat. Owen Johnson led the team with 12 total kills and the highest gold generation across the series. Between Delgado and Rieckmann, the support role provided 20 total assists. Saner illustrated great improvement as he jumped from six assists in Game One to 12 in Game Two. Lastly, Zeller contributed five kills, nine assists, and a total series CS of 486.

Spring 2026 NECC Regular Season + Quarterfinal Player Stats – Carthage League of Legends

• Owen Johnson (OwenThePotato)
  • Reg. Season: 95 Kills / 51 Deaths [1.86 K/D], 107 Assists [3.96 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: 12 Kills / 11 Deaths [1.09 K/D], Eight Assists [1.82 KDA]
• Gavin Johnson (Cahara)
  • Reg. Season: 81 Kills / 38 Deaths [2.13 K/D], 91 Assists [4.53 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: Five Kills / Seven Deaths [0.71 K/D], 16 Assists [3.00 KDA]
• Ian Saner (Toothless)
  • Reg. Season: 68 Kills / 43 Deaths [1.58 K/D], 125 Assists [4.49 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: Five Kills / Nine Deaths [0.56 K/D], 18 Assists [2.56 KDA]
• Quentin Zeller (Wolfstrike)
  • Reg. Season: 53 Kills / 43 Deaths [1.23 K/D], 128 Assists [4.21 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: Five Kills / Nine Deaths [0.56 K/D], Nine Assists [1.56 KDA]
• Katherine Rieckmann (Firerose22)
  • Reg. Season 15 Kills / 36 Deaths / 113 Assists [3.56 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: Two Kills / Five Deaths [0.40 K/D], Seven Assists [1.80 KDA]*
• Christian Delgado (Bravo)
  • Reg. Season: Nine Kills / 24 Deaths / 44 Assists [2.21 KDA]
  • Quarterfinal: One Kill / Six Deaths [0.17 K/D], 13 Assists [2.33 KDA]*

* Rieckmann played in Game One, while Delgado took over for Game Two.

Carthage LoL will continue WEC regular season competition on Monday, April 13. In addition, the team will wait and see if they qualify for NECC Nationals. Stay tuned on social media for updates regarding what Carthage Esports teams qualify for NECC Nationals.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinal Recap – No. 1 Carthage OW Red vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City University Rams [Division III – Central Playoffs]

Score: Carthage OW Red 3, Oklahoma 0

Carthage 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), began their Division III – Central Playoffs run with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Oklahoma City University on Friday, March 27. Upon the conclusion of Spring 2026's NECC regular season, OW Red finished with a 7-0 Overall and a 21-0 Map record. These metrics were enough to secure first place in the Division III – Central A standings, and obtained the No. 1 seed in playoffs.
Within the best-of-five series, Carthage OW Red competed against Oklahoma City University in the following game modes: Control (Ilios), Push (Esperança), and Escort (Watchpoint: Gibraltar). The Firebirds completed a clean sweep against the Rams: Control (2-1 victory), Push (127m - 81m victory), and Escort (1-0 victory after holding the Rams to zero points on defense). With this quarterfinal victory, Carthage OW Red advances further into the Spring 2026 Division III – Central Playoffs bracket.

No. 1 Carthage OW Red will return for an off-stream Division III – Central Semifinal best-of-five series vs. No. 5 Northern Illinois University [NIU] Huskies on Friday, April 10 at 4:00 p.m. CST. The winning team will advance to the Division III – Central Championship against either No. 3 Wright State Raiders (6-1, 18-3) or No. 7 Milwaukee School of Engineering [MSOE] Raiders Crimson (4-3, 14-11) on Friday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m. CST.
 

Spring 2026 NECC Quarterfinal Recap – No. 1 Edinboro University Fighting Scots vs. No. 8 Carthage OW Black [Division VIII – East Playoffs]

Score: Edinboro 3, Carthage OW Black 0

Carthage OW Black, featuring junior captain Ethan Anderson (Snowstorm), freshman Chris Duffey (Lithecash), freshman Alek Miech (Stewie), freshman Jena Pillman (Jenny), and freshman Jesse Ryburn (Kryptic), competed in a Division VIII – East Quarterfinal series vs. Edinboro University on Friday, March 27. The result was a 3-0 OW Black loss. Upon the conclusion of Spring 2026's regular season, OW Black finished with a 4-3 Overall and a 13-9 Map record. These metrics were enough to secure fourth place in the Division VIII – East B standings. As a result, Carthage OW Black was awarded the No. 8 seed.

Within the best-of-five series, Carthage OW Black fought Edinboro in the following game modes: Control (Lijang Tower), Hybrid (Midtown), and Push (Colosseo). The Fighting Scots secured wins on Control (2-0), Hybrid (1-0), and Push. Although OW Black were eliminated in the Spring 2026 NECC OW Quarterfinal, their 2025-26 academic year was successful as they made playoffs in both semesters. 

Season Comments (Jena Pillman): "Overall, I'm extremely proud of our team and what we accomplished this year. As we put together two straight seasons with playoff apperances illustrates our consistency. Even though we suffered First Round exits in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, they helped us see what we need to improve on. Transitioning from Division IX to Division VIII this Spring was big for us and proved how much we grew individually and as a team. I am thrilled we had great seasons within the 2025-26 academic year. I can not wait to see what next school year brings for Overwatch Black." 

Carthage OW Black will will wait and see if they qualify for NECC Nationals. Stay tuned on social media for updates regarding what Carthage Esports teams qualify for NECC Nationals. For now, they will continue to cheer on their varsity counterpart as they aim to capture yet another NECC conference championship.


Carthage Esports' livestreams will return for the Spring 2026 NECC Semifinals on April 8 for Rocket League Black. Valorant's semifinal victory vs. No. 1 Drury University on Monday, March 30, will be addressed in the upcoming semifinal recap. In addition, Valorant will be facing No. 5 Cornell College in the Division VI – Midwest championship on Monday, April 13. As of this writing, they are the only team penciled into a championship match. 

Follow @carthageesports on all socials to stay updated regarding NECC playoffs. Follow our Twitch channel to be informed when broadcasts go live. Lastly, be on the lookout for more Spring 2026 NECC Playoff recaps in the near future on the Carthage Athletics – Esports page.