KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo Esports team played another pair of Overwatch Activation Week matches Wednesday, falling to Cleveland State before beating Stevenson University.
 

Match 1 Cleveland State University vs IUK:

Game 1:  First game was control in a play all three series.  CSU got the first map pick and choose Lijiang Tower.  IUK rolled out a brawl comp in order to take advantage of the close ranges of the map.  On the first round of Control, both teams arrived to the objective at the same time to duke it out for the first team to capture.  Through a fast-track fight, CSU took control of the fight with a quick pick off of IUK's Symmetra, Gavin [zPunda].  For the second team fight, IUK fought back and was able to push the fight outside of the objective and converted their own capture of the point.  This capture was for about half of the objective time, but then a quick teleport by CSU's Symmetra flipped the fight completely leading CSU to the first round win.  For round two it was battle of the portals once again, as both team utilized Symmetra's teleporter in order to take space.  With again close battle that flipped back in forth, CSU was able to outlast and execute their portal dives better than IUK could pull of, with a 2-0 game one win.

Game 2: IUK got picked this round on an escort map and picked Junkertown.  IUK brought out a new team composition, but staying around a brawl team composition.  This was found to be a poor choose by the cougars as their opponents brought out their counter, a poke composition.  CSU was able to execute their game plan tremendously as their team was able to widdle IUK's team down from a far and from great angles around the map.  The star of the show was the tremendous play by both CSU's Sigma and Soldier who held key positions for their respective team.  This led to a huge hold from the first objective.  When sides flipped, CSU was able to get a huge flank teleport that caught the cougars completely off guard and led to an immediate eliminate for CSU.  This start had the cougars staggered and led CSU to a quick easy victory.

Game 3: For game three, we had push on New Queen Street.  This match started off With an IUK Dive and a CSU Brawl.  What proved to be a huge separator for Cleveland State was a Mercy Echo Combo.  This combination was too much for the cougars to contain and led to a huge push for CSU that ended up leading the momentum to a big swing that took the series.

CSU 3 - 0 IUK

Match 2 IUK vs SU:

Game 1: The Cougars luck finally turned in the first match vs SU in another battle in Lijang.  There was a quick capture by IUK to establish control after a lead off pick on SU's Junkrat.  This initial capture lasted only for about 20 percent of the point when SU's junkrat got a huge pick off of IUK's Tank, Sean [JohnLemons].  This allowed for SU to take their first point control.  SU's Brawl comp was matched in a large team fight with IUK that led to two elims by IUK's damage Alex [Bankz].  This led to IUK taking map control once again and holding SU off for the remainder of the round.  For the second round, IUK Took control via a quick Teleport to the objective to start and held the objective for the remainder of the game as IUK held the map control from SU.

Game 2:  Shambali Monastery was the pick for SU in another good win for the coguars.  IUK Changed to a Dive comp led by a Dva tank.  This comp proved to be much stronger than their opponents as IUK was able to push their payload for the full three points with about a minute and a half to spare.  On defense the cougars were even more impressive, holding their opponents to barely reaching their first point.  They were led by a huge game from Hanzo, played by co-captain Gavin [zPunda].  3-1 IUK Win.

Game 3: Last round was Push on Colesseo.  IUK Roled a very similar team composition to fight against a junkerqueen brawl squad.  Game three was by far the closest match of the series as both teams had solid pushes throughout.  It seemed as if the cougars would pull through but failed to hold off a big 40+ meter push by SU at the end with their strong Baptist Lamp usage and huge picks by their Hanzo. 

IUK 2 - 1 SU  

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.