10/29/21

SCRANTON, Pa. -- The Lackawanna College Esports Valorant team won a pair of matches in NJCAAE doubleheader action on Thursday night, defeating SUNY both Broome CC and Carl Sandburg College to remain undefeated in the 2021 season.

Match #1: Lackawanna College 2 - 0 SUNY Broome
The first match-up of the evening was against the Hornets from SUNY Broome, and right away the Falcons began to put on a clinic. Lackawanna College started out on the defensive side of the spike and their site holds were nearly immaculate. SUNY Broome did manage to take the 4^th round win, but that was the only round they would win on the first map on Split. From the 5^th round on, Lackawanna College went on to win every remaining round on defense and offense. Edwin Acosta (Gamertag: Axomaly) sat atop the leaderboard with a KDA of 19/7/2, with the rest of the team staying positive as well.

The second map of the best-of-three series was set as Ascent, this time with the Falcons starting out on attack. Lucas Fein (Gamertag: Shmippy) made a substitution for AJ Smith (Gamertag: gummyPWNS), getting his first NJCAAE action this fall. The SUNY Broome defense came to play on Ascent. Lackawanna College dropped the first three rounds on offense but answered by winning the next three rounds. The battle back and forth was intense with both teams making great plays to keep things even. At the side change, the score was 7-5, Lackawanan clinging to the lead. Now it was time for the Falcon defense to shine, and shine they did. The Falcons dug their feet in on site and won the remaining rounds, finishing the match with a score of 13-5 over SUNY Broome. Once again, Acosta owned the leaderboard with a KDA of 31/7/5. Doug Morrissey (Gamertag: Globe) put on a show as well, with a KDA of 17/9/10.


 
Match #2: Lackawanna College 2 - 0 Carl Sandburg College
The second match of the night was the rescheduled match from last week against the Carl Sandburg Chargers. The series started out on the newer map, Breeze, with Lackawanna starting out on defense. The Falcon defense is strong on any map, and they proved that on Breeze, winning the first ten rounds before dropping their first to the Chargers. Nathan Ayers (Gamertag: Quakian) made great usage of the Viper utilities and was able to pick off several players each round in the toxin. Morrissey came in clutch from round to round with his Operator play with Jett. At the side change, the score was 10-2 with Lackawanna in the lead, and about to begin their attacking rounds. The Chargers' defense planted their feet firmly on every point, making it very difficult for Lackawanna College to gain any advantage. Carl Sandburg College would win five rounds on their defensive end. Eventually, Lackawanna College was able to re-strategize and break through the Chargers' defense in order to finish out the map with a score of 13-7. Ayers sat on top of the leaderboard on Breeze with a KDA of 24/11/10 with Acosta right behind him with a KDA of 26/12/2.

The last map of the night was set to Split, which is arguably the Falcons' favorite and best map to play on. Lackawanna College showed why, making quick work of the Chargers on both sides of the spike, finishing the map with a score of 13-1. Acosta, Morrissey, and Ayers were the combat score leaders for the Falcons on the final map and were instrumental to the success of the team in tonight's doubleheader victories.
 
The Valorant squad remains undefeated in the NJCAAE Fall Valorant season (5-0) and will be back in action next Thursday, November 4^th at 7 PM EDT versus the Dawson Community College Buccaneers. Be sure to tune in on our Twitch channel at twitch.tv/lackawannaedu to catch all the action live!