Finlandia University

05/16/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/16/2022 10:39

Finlandia Esports advances to quarterfinals in NECC Rocket League National Tournament

May 16, 2022

Finlandia University's Esports Rocket League team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NECC National Tournament after going 2-1 in the qualifying round of the double-elimination tournament. At 3 p.m. today, May 15, FinnU will open quarterfinal play against GFU Academy. The winning team will advance to the semifinals held tonight at 6 p.m.

"Yesterday, I think we really came together as a group and I think we did a great job as a team to qualify for today," Rocket League Team Captain Anders Saarela said. "It was one of those things where we didn't expect to qualify for nationals, so we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could compete at a high level."

The team is comprised of student-athletes Chelan Gonzalez Milos Todorovic, Anders Saarela, Bryson Beck, Matyas Nesvadba and Austin Gilmore. With their one loss on Sunday, another will end the Lions' Rocket League season for the year, but Saarela and his Lions won't be giving up without a fight.

"The game we lost yesterday was to a great team, and so we want to take some of their strengths and try to adapt it into our game because we know the team tonight is going to be equally as strong, if not stronger. We've prepared ourselves, we've watched the video, I think it's going to be intense. it's going to be fun."

Those interested in watching the Lions' best-of-five series against GFU Academy can tune in to NECC's broadcast on Twitch at twitch.tv/necc2. For those who want to tune in early, Saarela will be livestreaming during the team's warmups, and throughout the competition, at twitch.tv/andersjari_fu.

"Don't be afraid to drop a chat while we play!"

Learn more about Esports at Finlandia University by visiting fulions.com.

Tags: Anders Saarela, Athletics, Austin Gilmore, Bryson Beck, Chelan Gonzalez, Esports, Finlandia Athletics, Finlandia Esports, Finlandia Lions, Matyas Nesvadba, Milos Todorovic, National Tournament, NECC