ONU E-sports First Valorant match

The first week of the Ohio Northern spring semester has begun. This is also the case for the Esports season. With our first match and stream being Valorant activation matches for NECC. The varsity team was looking to take down University of Illinois Chicago in a best of one match. Bans over the map were discussed between teams before the match started. It all boiled down to Haven and UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) decided to take defense first. 

Start of the match

This decision would of course give them the advantage in the first 12 rounds of the match. Typically Haven is more of an attacker sided match but the issue was ONU (Ohio Northern University) went for more of a defensive team composition. The ONU varsity struggled to find their footing early. UIC ended up taking the first 2 rounds giving them the early advantage. However, in round 3 ONU was able to buy out (get full guns and shields) which would lead the ONU side to their first round win. UIC responded prominently by winning the next round as they returned the favor of buying out. This would put a dent into the ONU economy; they would be forced to only bring pistols and a few SMGs. (sub-machine guns) Even with this handicap of sorts ONU was able to pull off the round with a clutch 2v3 win in the final moments of the round. This allowed ONU to pick up some of the AR (assault rifles) off of the ground giving them the advantage in going into the 6 round. Even with this advantage they were still behind UIC by one round win. However, despite the weapon advantage UIC was able to win the next round and 3 more rounds after that setting the score at 7-2 UIC advantage. With 3 more rounds to go in the half ONU need to win at least 2 more rounds to give them an opportunity to win the map in the second half. Which ONU was able to do, winning the next 2 and losing the last to finish the first half of the match with a 4-8 round score line. 

Half time

UIC seemed to be in control throughout the first half with their more defensive side composition. It gave them a lead into the half they only needed to win 5 more rounds to win the match. ONU had other plans though, taking the first 2 rounds of the half making the scoreline 6-8 leaving UIC looking for answers. Which UIC would find in the 3rd round of the second half. ONU did not like this and won the next round in a flawless manner. (Flawless wins are when not one person on the team dies and that team wins the round.) This would push UIC to the brink but they would trade round win for round win with a fast execution and leave ONU without time to set up. UIC would use this momentum to win a clutch round taking the scoreline 7-11 UIC favored. UIC would only need 2 more rounds to take this best of one series. UIC would take the next round leaving ONU with nothing going into the final round of the match UIC was able to secure the match win. Leaving ONU with a loss in the first match of the new year. This was only activation matches so ONU would have one more match to find out their seeding going into the actual season. That team would end up forfeiting leaving ONU with a 1 and 1 record in activation which would leave them in the Challenger division which is one below Champions. 

If you would like to keep up with all ONU Esports matches and events make sure to follow us across all of our social media, which can be found in the link below.  Also be sure to follow our twitch to watch any future matches

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 https://www.twitch.tv/onu_esports