Statesmen Swept by League-Leading Columbia

Oskaloosa–The William Penn Esports team was unable to deliver a blemish to the squad at the top of the standings as it fell 3-0 to Columbia in Heart of America Athletic Conference Rocket League action Thursday.

WPU (3-4) was shut out the entire night by the Cougars (7-0), including falling 6-0 in the opening bout.

CC did all of its first-game damage on just nine shots. The trio of Aiden Gibbons (Fr., Apollo Beach, Fla., Sports Management), Thando Morebudi (Sr., Pretoria, South Africa, Applied Computer Science), and Martin Contreras (Fr., Hinsdale, Ill., Sports Management) all recorded one shot on goal. Gibbons and Contreras tallied one save each as well.

The navy and gold improved its play in the middle round, not allowing a score until there was just 1:55 left on the clock. That kickstarted the Cougars as they pulled away down the stretch to claim a 4-0 victory. Gibbons and Morebudi both finished with one shot on goal, while defensively, Gibbons, Morebudi, and Contreras all came up with two stops.

WPU nearly forced a fourth game, but ultimately was swept as it was saddled with a 1-0 loss in the third contest. Gibbons, Contreras, and Vann Bohling (So., Leander, Texas, Business Management) started the game and posted two shots each, but no one could find the netting.

Gibbons’ three saves were nearly enough to force overtime, but Columbia put the match away with the round’s only goal at the 3:13 mark.

“Even though we were swept, this was such a great showing for us,” Head Coach Austin Fagen-Scholes said. “Columbia is a great team and atop the Heart for a reason. I was really proud of how we played, and am looking forward to a great match versus Clarke.”

Next Up: William Penn takes on Clarke in Heart action on Thursday, March 19.