MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State Esports team began its week three action on Tuesday night suffering a pair of losses in Rocket League.
 
SMSU's first match ended with a 3-0 (12-2, 5-0, 9-2) loss to Park University, the second match on Tuesday was also a 3-0 (4-0, 3-0, 4-2) setback to Blinn College.
 
In the first game SMSU's defense was what kept them alive, having both Mitchell Baker Magrath (KrawMagraw) and Sean Maciej (FireGingerWolf) both recording three saves up against the Park's high-octane offense taking 19 shots. Magrath and Kyle Potter (Dark_Crystal) had a goal each. Both Potter and Magrath were shooting 50% in the first game each taking two shots. Park's top player FloofyRL had seven goals in the first match along with two saves, two assists, and accounted for almost half of Park's shots taking nine in the first game. Park took the first game with a 12-2 game one victory. 
 
In the second game both teams slowed way down. Park as a whole team took a total of 10 shots only landing five of those for points. SMSU struggled to kickstart their offense only taking three shots, two coming from Maciej and one from Magrath. The defense for SMSU kept up, with having two saves coming from Potter and one from Maciej combing for a team total of three. Park held a 5-0 lead over SMSU in the second game of the series. 
 
In the final game of the series Park turned the gas back on and had each of their players; Sci_Frye, Hoy Yaa, and FloofyRL take six shots against SMSU. Sci_Frye having the highest shooting percentage for Park sinking five of his six shots taken. SMSU's Maciej had a productive third game landing two of his three shots and having four saves on defense.  SMSU falls in the final game 9-2 against Park University losing 3-0 in the series.
 
SMSU began their second series going up against Blinn College who opened with a stone wall defense against SMSU. Blinn had five saves in game one blocking all of SMSU's shots. Potter and Magrath was able to combine to save three of the 12 shots taken by Blinn. Both also had taken two shots in the first game as well with Maciej taking one shot. Blinn took the first game in the series with a 4-0 score. 
 
In the second game, similar to what happened in the series with Park University, both teams slowed down with Blinn only taking five shots and having Jaxxo land one and Ophi find home for the other two. Jaxxo leading their team in assists recording four of the five in the second game. SMSU took five shots on Cliff unfortunately though the defense held their ground and SMSU was unable to land any of their shots. Maciej was the leading shot taker with four of SMSU's shots, he also recorded the only save in this game. Cliff kept the 3-0 lead against SMSU in the second game of the series. 
 
The third and final game of the series found SMSU getting a burst late and keeping pace with Blinn. SMSU able to shoot 50% in the final game with Potter taking two shots and landing one, and both Magrath and Maciej each taking a single shot and Magrath able to sink his in. SMSU wasn't just competing on offense, Blinn had taken nine shots in the final game and each SMSU team member had a single save. Jaxxo was the heavy hitter for Cliff with leading the team in shots with 11 on the night in the series and sinking three of the four goals for Cliff in the final game. SMSU falls in the final game against Cliff with a score of 4-2 and giving up the series 3-0. 
 
SMSU E-Sports gets back into action tomorrow night with the Valorant team taking on the Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m. 
 
The Rocket League Team will be back next week Tuesday, Oct. 20^th, to go off against Shenandoah University at 7 p.m. and the University of Southern Mississippi at 8:15p.m.