SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse Overwatch (1-0) lived up to expectations, defeating West Virginia 3-0 in a dominant performance Tuesday night in Marley Auditorium.

Syracuse Overwatch (OW) was ranked No. 16 in the Overwatch Collegiate Rankings, making it the top ranked OW team in the Power Esports Conference (PEC). The only other ranked OW team was Boise State, at No. 20.
Cuse OW showed why there is so much hype around the team entering its PEC opener, putting on a masterful display of individual and team gameplay.

How It Happened:
Game 1 (Control): Busan-Downtown was the first map of the control game. Both teams opted to ban support characters. SU chose to ban the newly reworked Sombra, who changed roles from damage to support, and the Mountaineers banned Kiriko. The Orange immediately showed its skills, winning the control point in the first fight and holding it for the rest of Map 1. The second map, Busan-Sanctuary, followed a similar script with SU winning the first team fight and holding West Virginia in their spawn.
Game 1 Syracuse Lineup:
Zachary Moore – Sombra
Aaron Feinstein – Jetpack Cat
Tristan Becker – D. Mon
Mackinnley Kuberski – Sojourn
Harris Levinson – Tracer
Game 2 (Escort): Junkertown was the locale set for Game 2 with completely new banned characters from each team. SU decided on Jetpack Cat and West Virginia chose Wrecking Ball for their bans. Jetpack Cat was used by West Virginia on Map 2 of Game 1, but Wrecking Ball wasn't used at all in Game 1. The Mountaineers started Game 2 on attack, struggling to make it past the first choke point. It wasn't until their initial four minute attack timer was up that WV began moving the payload and was close to the first checkpoint before Syracuse regrouped for an overtime stand. Even with Becker dying first in the team fight, Levinson and Kuberski took over, clearing out the West Virginia team with backline support from Feinstein and Moore.
Syracuse took that momentum into its attack phase, immediately getting two picks from Kuberski, who switched over to Widowmaker. West Virginia held the Orange off for one push, but Kuberski displayed his ability again, taking out West Virginia's Kiriko and sparking a team wipe that allowed Cuse OW to win Game 2.
Game 2 Syracuse Lineup:
Moore – Doctrine (Defense and Attack)
Feinstein – Sombra (Defense and Attack)
Becker – Winston (Defense and Attack)
Kuberski – Shion (Defense) | Widowmaker (Attack)
Levinson – Tracer (Defense and Attack)
Game 3 (Flashpoint): Suravasa was selected for flashpoint, and the Orange banned Orisa, who hadn't been picked yet by West Virginia. West Virginia, tired of facing the reworked support Sombra, whom Syracuse played in both Games 1 and 2, banned her. Cuse started the game strong again, winning the first team fight and capturing the point. But after the Mountaineers swapped tanks to Winston, they caught SU pushed up too far and won the first point. This led to three SU swaps: Moore - Doctrine to Kiriko, Kuberski – Cassidy to Sojourn, and Levinson – Shion to Tracer. The composition change led to the Orange winning the next three points and victory in its PEC opener.
Game 3 Syracuse Lineup:
Moore – Doctrine | Kiriko
Feinstein – Jetpack Cat
Becker – Winston
Kuberski – Cassidy | Sojourn
Levinson – Shion | Tracer

Up Next:
Syracuse Esports continues its first week of PEC competition against West Virginia when Syracuse Valorant plays at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Marley Auditorium looking to put Syracuse up 2-0 in the overall matchup. Then at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, the Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League teams compete with the Super Smash Bros. Homestand in Marley Auditorium. Admission for matches at Marley Auditorium is free for all Syracuse University students and all matches are streamed live on Twitch and YouTube.

Socials: For more information on Syracuse Esports, visit here. Fans of the Orange can follow @cuseesports on Instagram, X and Facebook.