LoL Wins NECC National Championships

The UHSP League of Legends (LoL) Esports team has won the first national team championship in Eutectic history! The Eutectics defeated the team from Columbia College (Mo.) 3-2 in the championship match on May 1, to claim the Champions Stage National Championship title in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).

The Eutectic team consisted of James Bamberger, Cole Cwiklowski, Danniel Franco, Steven Jin (Jay), Alexandre Noel, and Alex Sarate for the regular spring season, which began in February and ran through the middle of March. After finishing the regular season in the NECC Champions league West B Conference with a record of 5-2, the Eutectics ranked just ahead of Columbia (4-3) in third-place in the conference standings. With the top four teams from each of the six conferences in the Champions Stage level of the NECC qualify for the playoffs, both UHSP and Columbia were automatically entered in the post-season tournament by finishing the regular season in the top half of their eight-team conference.

Seeded sixth coming into the West Playoffs, the Eutectic team defeated the number-three seed University of Texas-Dallas 2-1 to start the tournament on March 20. The Euts then took down their own West B conference champs No. 2-UCSC White 2-1 in Round 2 on April 3. Advancing to the finals was enough to secure an invitation to Nationals, but the Eutectics went ahead and defeated No. 8-Columbia College in that final match, 3-1, on April 10 to win the West Playoffs and advance to the National Tournament ranked fifth of 10 qualifying teams.

That fifth seed afforded the Eutectics a bye in the first round of nationals before they faced No. 4-Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Round 2 on April 24. After dispatching of the RIT team 2-0, UHSP advanced to the third round to take on No. 9-Ohio State University-Gray, who had upset No. 1-UTM Phoenix, 2-0, in the previous round. The Eutectics, however, had little trouble defeating the Ohio State, winning two games in a row (2-0) on April 30, to advance to the Championship Game scheduled for May 1. For that final best-of-five match, the Purple and Gold again faced Columbia College, who had battled their way through the other side of the bracket.

After losing the first game, the Eutectics came back to even the score in the second, then took a 2-1 lead after three. The scrappy Columbia team battled back to tie it at two games apiece, forcing a fifth game to determine who would be the national champions. But, the Eutectics did not allow themselves to be rattled, staying focused on task at hand to dominate the final game and claim the title of National Champion with a 3-2 victory over their rival.

Head Coach Fernando Paiva was very proud of his team's performance and achievements.

"We had a slow beginning of the season, trying to figure out everyone's assignment within the team and the game," said Paiva. "But, as the season progressed, we were able to figure out each player's role, which helped us to solidify as a team and a group. That allowed us to make it to nationals and eventually win.

"I am very proud of the way our team played and the obstacles they overcame in and out of the rift in order to achieve UHSP's first national championship title.

"Thank you to all who watched and supported us this season. I hope to see you next semester!"