Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College Esports Rocket League team began their 2024 season with a victory over Cornell College, winning 3-1 at the Meraki Gaming Center in Jacksonville, Illinois. The match included two overtime wins in games two and four that secured the team's triumph.

In the first game, Cornell College took an early lead with a decisive 3-0 win, demonstrating aggressive offense with ten shots on goal. Illinois College (IC) regrouped in game two, securing a narrow 3-2 victory in overtime. Josh Hallanger led IC with two goals on four shots, while Dwight Duijneveld also scored.

Game three saw IC taking control of the series with a 2-1 win. Goals were scored by Hallanger and first-year dual-sport athlete Glenn Conway. The fourth game was closely contested, ending in another overtime period where IC emerged victorious at 7:13 minutes into extra time thanks to Conway's goal.

Hallanger was named Most Valuable Player for his performance, contributing four goals, two assists, and six saves throughout the match. Duijneveld added two goals, four assists, and eight saves to his record. Conway also contributed significantly with two goals and three saves.

"After the conclusion of the match, Hallanger was interviewed and gave a lot of praise for his teammates setting him up as well as his coach for getting the team on the same page," said Head Coach David Seering.

The team is set to face Cleveland State University next on Thursday, February 1 at 5:45 PM.