Rocket League team drops close doubleheader to CCAC, University of Louisville

By Carl Zappa III

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University's Rocket League team played back-to-back matches against the Community College of Allegheny County and the University of Louisville Friday night.

The Celtics lost the nonconference match against CCAC, 3-0, and fell, 3-0, in overtime to National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) opponent University of Louisville.

vs. CCAC
Game 1

CCAC opened the scoring at 4:24, but Carlow answered at 4:05 on a Brady Fest goal to make it 1-1.

Elizabeth Knight, making her Rocket League debut, set up Fest for Carlow's second goal of the game to give the Celtics a 2-1 lead.

CCAC was able to fire back and draw even at 2:05.

The next major action came with 1:07 remaining as Fest slotted a breakaway top 90 to take Carlow up 3-2.

The Celtics played confidently for the last minute, but CCAC was able to sneak one in with just four seconds remaining to tie the game, 3-3. CCAC then scored an astonishing goal with a long ball off the faceoff that they were able to dunk home with no time left on the clock.

The heartbreaker Hail Mary sealed the deal for CCAC in game one, 4-3.

Game 2

CCAC scored twice in the first 24 seconds to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead.

Carlow built a promising attack around 4:05 but was stymied by a spectacular CCAC save. CCAC then converted on a bouncing ball in front of the Carlow net to go up 3-0.

Fest started the Carlow comeback at 2:45, cutting the score to 3-1 and kept it going just 10 seconds later with another goal off an Alena Hemminger assist.

Knight got involved in the offensive action with a nice shot at 1:38 that was parried away by CCAC.

CCAC was able to convert on a tic-tack-toe passing play with 26 seconds left to put away game two with a final score of 4-2.

Game 3

Hemminger opened scoring at 4:05 to take Carlow up 1-0 off a Fest assist.

It was CCAC who scored next at 2:46 to tie it up 1-1.

Carlow had a few solid opportunities turned away by CCAC through next two minutes.

After some even back-and-forth, CCAC found the back of the net to go up 2-1 with just 26 seconds left.

Hemminger produced a big save at 0:35, but all was quiet after that as CCAC secured the game three win 2-1 and secured the match victory 3-0.

Carlow 3 | CCAC 4
Carlow 2 | CCAC 4
Carlow 1 | CCAC 2

vs. University of Louisville
Game 1

Carlow was under heavy pressure through the first minute of play, and Louisville was able to convert at 3:50 to go up 1-0.

Hemminger turned away a Louisville shot at 2:50, but they were able to slam home the rebound to go up 2-0. AJ Nguyen then had a nice save that jumpstarted a counter attempt for Fest who was turned away at 2:15.

Nguyen and Fest combined for a few opportunities around 1:30, but Louisville was able to pull ahead 3-0 on a slam home off a self-pass on the back wall.

The Cardinals put one more away with just five seconds left to take the final score of game one to 4-0.

Game 2

The first 15 seconds were intense as Louisville scored just seconds into the game and Hemminger almost equalized for Carlow at 4:48. Another Fest chance followed but was also saved by Louisville.

Hemminger put on another shot at 3:58, but the Cardinals were able to counter after the save and pulled away 2-0.

Louisville went on to score three more goals between the first and fourth minute extending their lead to 5-0. 

The Celtics refused to be shutout in back-to-back games, and Fest was able to find the back of the net with 41 seconds remaining to make the final score, 5-1.

Game 3

Louisville scored again at 4:48, but Fest had the answer at 4:29 to draw even at 1-1.

It took until 3:35 to see the next goal which was a rocket of a shot by Fest. Louisville did not give Carlow much time with the lead as they pulled even on the following kickoff keeping the game tied, 2-all.

Louisville scored again at 2:31 to go up 3-2. Carlow brought solid pressure looking for the game-tying goal, and they were able to find it in dramatic fashion.
Fest stole a ball and slammed it home with only five seconds left on the clock to keep Carlow alive and send the game to overtime with a score of 3-3.

Once OT began, it only took Louisville 11 seconds to score the sudden-death winner and claim the game win as well as the overall match win.

Carlow 0 | Louisville 4
Carlow 1 | Louisville 5
Carlow 3 | Louisville 4