October 2, 2023
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University Trojan Rocket League and Valorant squads both claimed a series win over South Dakota Mines, moving into the top three spots of each title's Collegiate Champions League (CCL).
Rocket League Recap
The first match featured the Trojans pulling into an early lead 2-0 over SDM. Cody Farland closed out the match by maneuvering the ball down the field for his tenth of the season. He produced the highest number of goals in a single season at Dakota State.
DSU continued to show a dominating presence in the second match, setting an early lead of 2-0 before the Hardrockers rallied and got on the scoreboard. Farland took the match pace back and worked the ball to Zach Olsen for another goal for the Trojans, bringing the score to 4-1 with a minute and thirty seconds left on the board. Olsen scored by hitting a top left goal and closed the round with a score of 5-3.
Match three of the series proved to be a hard battle for Dakota State. Alex Cuka halted the Hardrockers first advance on the goal by diving in and kicking the ball away into left field. The match continued in a standoff until Farland approached the Hardrocker goal, dribbling past two defenders and kicking the ball for a goal but just missed hitting the top railing.
The match ended with no goals, forcing the match into a sudden death overtime. Dakota State battled with South Dakota intensely for two minutes, aiming to secure a a goal and the victory. The Hardrockers set up a play, slipping past the three Trojan players securing the goal and extending the series to a fourth round.
SDM attacked the fourth match with ambition, scoring a goal immediately off the first drop. Olsen rallied for DSU by scoring a goal and tie the match at 1-1. Farland gained early control of the ball off of the second drop and took an ariel attack on the Hardrockers' goal, scoring for Dakota State and pulling them ahead with two minutes left in the match.
Cuka scored two goals in the last minute-and-half of the match, giving the Trojans a series victory 3-1.
Rocket League is now third in the CCL Fall standings with an overall score of 2-1. The Trojans face Minnesota State University Moorhead on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Valorant Recap
Trevor Schlechter opened the scoreboard for Dakota State by eliminating two Hardrocker attackers, while being the only Trojan player left in the opening match.
Round two and three showed a split gain for each team with the Trojans leading 2-1.
Round three to eleven, DSU continued to play with finesse, with Aleksandr Billey eliminating the entire South Dakota Mines team in round four for a player ace. Ayden Johnson continued the trend in round six for the Trojans. Calvin Stumpf contributed double eliminations in Dakota State's run in round seven and eleven, leading 10-1 before SDM called a timeout at the end of the set.
The Hardrockers answered after their timeout by renewing strength and shut down the Trojans run (DSU led 10-2). Dakota State, however, was not a force to be stopped and rallied in round thirteen with Billey taking a four-person elimination, with round fourteen and fifteen featuring a strong team push for the first match win 13-2.
The Trojans kept the fire burning in match two of the series taking the first eleven rounds of the game earning an early massive lead on the Hardrockers 11-0. Johnson secured the early lead by helping DSU in the first two rounds. eliminating three SDM attackers in round one and two in round two.
Dakota State continued pushing South Dakota Mines behind with three back-to-back flawless rounds and achieved by winning the round without losing a player to elimination in rounds four through six. The Trojans picked up another flawless round in round eight and two more strong victories in round nine and ten.
The Hardrockers found a loophole in round eleven, shutting down the Trojans and obtained a spot on the scoreboard. DSU rallied the next three rounds with Schlechter securing a two-person elimination. Carson Boyle followed up with another double, helping the Trojans to a match win 13-1 and a series victory 2-0.
Billey led Dakota State with 41 eliminations and 14 assists. Johnson added 31 eliminations and 11 assists. Boyle registered 24 eliminations and 11 assists. Schlechter tallied 24 eliminations and nine assists, and Calvin Stumpf with 16 eliminations and 13 assists.
DSU's Valorant plays against Dickinson State (N.D.) on Sunday at 8 p.m.
