NEW ORLEANS – The Pack won matches in Overwatch and Smash Bros. on Tuesday and Thursday. Loyola played against Wayland Baptist University in Overwatch 2 and the University of Missouri in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
On Tuesday, the Wolf Pack looked to capture their first win in Overwatch 2. In the first set, the teams competed on the Control map, Ilios. In the first round, Loyola dominated, reaching 100% on the objective, only allowing WBU to get to 28%. In the second round, the Pack kept the Pioneers off the objective, winning 100% to 0%, and taking a one-set lead.
In the second set, Loyola started on attack on the Hybrid map, King's Row. Despite WBU's best efforts, the Pack could not be stopped, reaching the end of the map with the payload with 4:43 remaining and taking a 3-0 lead. Switching to defense, the Wolf Pack held WBU to 13 seconds left before they reached the end of the map. Going to the third round, Loyola stayed on defense. With one minute to score, WBU captured the objective. As the third round clock ran into overtime, the Pack needed to get WBU off the payload. A clutch ultimate from Zachary Puetz's Reaper gave Loyola the stop they needed. Moving to attack, the Wolf Pack needed to move the payload past WBU's spot. Loyola moved the payload with ease, taking a two-set lead.
With a victory within reach, the Wolf Pack played on the Escort map, Route 66 for the third set. Starting on attack, the Pack were unstoppable, reaching the end of the map with 1:34 remaining and taking a 3-0 lead in the third set. Moving to the second round with a chance to take victory, Loyola took to the defensive side. The Wolf Pack's defense was impermeable, leaving the payload at the starting point and the opponents hiding in Route 66's diner. With a third-set victory, Loyola swept WBU, 3-0, and won their first match of Overwatch 2 (2-0, 5-4, 3-0).
On Thursday, the Pack took on the University of Missouri in their second meeting of the season for the Conference Play-in. This time, the Wolf Pack needed to win to advance to the Conference Championship.Â
Nathan Long started things off for the Pack as Rosalina & Luma, taking on Mizzou's Pokémon Trainer. However, Long's opponent proved to be a difficult challenge with the ability to switch between Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard. For the first battle, Long's Rosalina & Luma fell to Mizzou's Pokémon Trainer, 3-1. Next to take on Mizzou was Anthony Nodolski as Olimar. Nodolski used the range of Olimar's pikmin to damage Charizard from afar and defeated Mizzou's first fighter, 2-1. Then, Mizzou sent in Luigi to take on Olimar. Nodolski frustrated Mizzou's Luigi while avoiding his attacks and claimed victory over his opponent, winning 3-1. Nodolski's third opponent was Mizzou's Falco. Falco proved to be a more difficult opponent for Olimar, but Nodolski made things easy for the Pack, taking Falco down to one stock before losing his last, falling 1-2. Ameer Joseph was the next member of the Pack to enter the ring. Joseph's Bayonetta took down Mizzou's Falco, winning 1-2. For their final fighter, Mizzou brought in Ike to take on Joseph. Just like their last matchup, Mizzou's Ike was a strong opponent, taking down Joseph's Bayonetta 1-0. Sending in their last fighter, Loyola's Luigi, Owen Salinas faced Mizzou's Ike to decide the winner of the first crew battle. Salinas easily defeated Mizzou's Ike, winning 3-1 and taking a 1-0 lead.
In the second crew battle, Salinas stayed in the ring, taking on Mizzou's Pokémon Trainer. Salinas' Luigi ended Pokémon Trainer's day with a zero-to-death combo, winning 3-1. Falco was the second fighter for Mizzou to face Luigi. Once again, Salinas took down his opponent, defeating Falco 3-1. In a ditto match, Salinas' Luigi faced Mizzou's Luigi. With one stock left, Salinas managed to take one of Mizzou's before falling 1-1. Then, Nathan Long's Rosalina & Luma took on Mizzou's Luigi. Long eliminated Mizzou's Luigi, winning 2-1. Once again, Mizzou sent in Ike for their last chance to force a third set. With two stocks left, Long managed to take two of Ike's before falling, giving Joseph's Zelda a two-stock advantage over Ike. With one stock left, Joseph's Zelda ended the day for Mizzou, giving the team a victory and helping them advance to the Conference Championship.
The Pack's next Smash Bros. match will be the Conference Championship on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. in a rematch against Wichita State University. The winner will advance to the playoffs, and the loser will move on to the Last Chance Qualifier for a chance to make the playoffs. The match will be livestreamed by Loyola at
https://www.twitch.tv/loynoesports.
Results
First Crew Battle:
Pokémon Trainer (Mizzou) def. Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long), 3-1
Olimar (Anthony Nodolski) def. Pokémon Trainer (Mizzou), 2-1
Olimar (Anthony Nodolski) def. Luigi (Mizzou), 3-1
Falco (Mizzou) def. Olimar (Anthony Nodolski), 1-2
Bayonetta (Ameer Joseph) def. Falco (Mizzou), 1-2
Ike (Mizzou) def. Bayonetta (Ameer Joseph), 1-0
Luigi (Owen Salinas) def. Ike (Mizzou), 3-1
Loyola leads match, 1-0
Second Crew Battle:
Luigi (Owen Salinas) def. Pokémon Trainer (Mizzou), 3-1
Luigi (Owen Salinas) def. Falco (Mizzou), 3-1
Luigi (Mizzou) def. Luigi (Owen Salinas), 1-1
Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long) def. Luigi (Mizzou), 2-1
Ike (Mizzou) def. Rosalina & Luma (Nathan Long), 2-2
Zelda (Ameer Joseph) def. Ike (Mizzou), 1-2
Loyola wins match, 2-0
Also on Thursday, Loyola faced Mizzou in Overwatch 2. In the match, the Pack fell to the Tigers, 3-0. The Wolf Pack will play their next Overwatch match on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m against James Madison University. The match will be livestreamed on Loyola's Twitch channel.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
