MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State Esports team faced off Wednesday night with its Valorant team losing 2-1 against Muskingum University. 
 
SMSU's began the night by securing the team's first map victory going 13-3 but dropping the next two maps with 13-5 and 13-11 defeat against Muskingum University. 
 
On the first map, SMSU earned its first map victory by placing four of their own teammates in the top five on the leaderboards. Taking the top spot was Nicholas Polfiet (BigZoomerEnergy) having 18 kills, eight deaths and getting one of the three plants for SMSU. Kyle Potter (Dark Crystal) and Jackson Vierstaete (jAFFr0) filled out the second and third spot both having 15 kills and Vierstaete having the team's lowest death count with seven. Potter finished the first map with the teams highest first blood scores finishing with six. Salvador Cid had the fifth spot on the leaderboard finishing the first map with 12 kills, 13 deaths and one of the teams two defuses. Muskingum did place one of their own in the top five, EKae, they were able to finish the first map with 11 kills, 15 deaths and was able to get one of the teams five defuses. SMSU finished the first map with a score of 13-3 making the overall score 1-0 against Muskingum University. 
 
For the second map, SMSU kept on the offensive placing two of their teammates in the top five. The defense for the team was taken advantage of by Muskingum. Ekae finished top of the leaderboard with 25 kills, 12 deaths, along with five first bloods. Animosa finished second overall and had 17 kills and 10 deaths. For SMSU Polfiet and Vierstraete filled the three and four slots. Polfiet getting 15 kills, 15 deaths, and lead the entire map with eight first bloods. Vierstaete finished the second map with 15 kills, 15 deaths and lead his team in assists with six. The second map was won by Muskingum with a score of 13-5 leading the overall score 1-1. 
 
The third map was highly competitive and came down to the wire. SMSU placing two of its team members in the top five. Vierstaete taking the second spot and having an oustounding 23 kills, 17 deaths and securing both a first blood and diffuse for SMSU. Polfiet filled the third slot with 18 kills, 21 deaths and leading his team again in first bloods, this time with five. EKae found the number one spot again on the leaderboard for Muskingum with 32 kills, 17 deaths, and leading the map this time with six first bloods. This third map came down to the wire with Muskingum barely pulling out the victory with a score of 13-11, taking the series overall with a score of 2-1.  
 
SMSU's Esports fall regular season ends with Wednesday night's Valorant Teams competition against Muskingum University.