Overwatch and Smash Bros. keep winning streaks alive

NEW ORLEANS –.The Loyola Esports program stayed in the win column this week with Overwatch and Smash Bros. Premier getting wins in their respective matchups. Loyola Overwatch got its fourth straight sweep on Tuesday, against Concordia College (Minn.). The Smash Bros. Premier team claimed a sweep over Southern Miss on Thursday to keep its hot streak alive in the regular-season finale. To end the week, the Smash Bros. Plus team fell to the University of Central Missouri on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Loyola Overwatch will match up with UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m. To close out the week, the Smash Bros. Plus team will face the University of Jamestown on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. Wolf Pack fans can tune into the action at https://www.twitch.tv/loynoesports with the Super Smash Bros. Plus team competing at https://www.youtube.com/@loynoesports2.

The Overwatch squad started on Lijiang Tower in Tuesday's match against Concordia College. The Pack stayed dominant through round one with Matthew Marshall leading the charge with Junker Queen. Mark Violante and Dashiell Hazzard played damage for Loyola, while Rexford Kaase and Maya Hernandez played support. After the Pack rolled through the first round, Loyola managed a 46-0 lead to start round two. However, an ultimate from the Cobbers helped them gain control of the point.

Not long after, a Deadeye from Violante, along with two kills from Hazzard's Pharah put Loyola back in control. From that point, the Wolf Pack held down the objective to secure the first set. The Maroon and Gold began set two on the attacker's side of Eichenwalde. The Pack quickly took control of the objective to start the payload. Loyola was unstoppable in the first round, taking a 3-0 lead with just under three minutes left on the clock. 

Switching sides, the Wolf Pack held Concordia off the point until the last second. Just before the Cobbers could take the point, an ultimate from Kaase's Zenyatta and quick kills from Marshall's D.Va helped Loyola secure the second set. In the final set, Loyola kept the ball rolling, taking each objective on Suravasa to stay undefeated through five matches.

Lily Neeley started Thursday's Smash Bros. Premier match with a win over Southern Miss' Incineroar. After USM's Pokémon Trainer notched two wins over Loyola, Malachi Lee matched that effort to claim two fights over the opponent, 1-0 and 3-2. Once Lee's Terry went down, Samuel Spiegel entered the match as Steve to take down USM's Bowser Jr. and secure the first crew battle, 1-0.

Staying in the match, Spiegel won the matchup against Banjo & Kazooie, 3-1. USM's Bowser Jr. eliminated Spiegel to even the score. Shortly after, two quick wins by Anthony Nodolski's Olimar turned the tide for Loyola, pushing Southern Miss to its last fighter. While Corrin defeated Nodolski, the USM fighter only had one stock left. Neeley's Lucina closed out the match for the Pack, taking Corrin's last stock to get the match victory.

Premier Results

First Crew Battle:

Lucina (Lily Neeley) def. Incineroar (USM), 3-2
Pokémon Trainer (USM) def. Lucina (Lily Neeley), 1-0
Pokémon Trainer (USM) def. Olimar (Anthony Nodolski), 3-2
Terry (Malachi Lee) def. Pokémon Trainer (USM), 1-0
Terry (Malachi Lee) def. Corrin (USM), 3-2
Bowser Jr. (USM) def. Terry (Malachi Lee), 1-1
Steve (Samuel Spiegel) def. Bowser Jr. (USM), 2-2
Loyola leads match, 1-0

Second Crew Battle:

Steve (Samuel Spiegel) def. Banjo & Kazooie (USM), 3-1
Bowser Jr. (USM) def. Steve (Samuel Spiegel), 2-2
Olimar (Anthony Nodolski) def. Bowser Jr. (USM), 1-0
Olimar (Anthony Nodolski) def. Pokémon Trainer (USM), 3-2
Corrin (USM) def. Olimar (Anthony Nodolski), 1-2
Lucina (Lily Neeley) def. Corrin (USM), 1-2
Loyola wins match, 2-0

Plus Results

First Crew Battle:

Ken (UCM) def. Terry (Evan Sakryd), 3-0
Ken (UCM) def. Wolf (Lucian Payne), 3-1
Ken (UCM) def. Toon Link (Daven-Angelo Montalbano), 3-1
Ken (UCM) def. Sonic (Leyton Gould), 3-0
Central Missouri leads match, 1-0

Second Crew Battle:

Lucas (UCM) def. Toon Link (Daven-Angelo Montalbano), 3-2
Sonic (Leyton Gould) def. Lucas (UCM),1-1
Pac-Man (UCM) def. Sonic (Leyton Gould), 2-1
Pac-Man (UCM) def. Terry (Evan Sakryd), 3-1
Wolf (Lucian Payne) def. Pac-Man (UCM), 1-2
Sephiroth (UCM) def. Wolf (Lucian Payne), 1-2
Central Missouri wins match, 2-0