HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College Esports Rainbow Six team competed in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Division VI National Championship finals on Wednesday evening, facing off against Central Methodist University. In a thrilling come-from-behind behind victory, the Rainbow Six 'Grims pulled off the upset against the top-seeded Eagles, claiming the NECC D6 National Championship title.
In the opening game of the best-of-five series, the 'Grims took a tough 7-0 loss to the vaunted Eagles, an experience that taught the Rainbow Six players of NEC a healthy respect for their opponents.
That experience paid dividends in game two, a back-and-forth nail-biter went to overtime before NEC
Divon Duncan / ChickenNudle pulled off a clutch 1v4 to secure the 8-7 win, with an assist to
Isaiah Turner / WalkemDownIT.
Zack Doward / Swazy posted a brilliant line in the bracket with 19 kills / 10 deaths / 6 assists.
Game three saw the top-seeded CMU team rebound with a 7-4 victory over NEC, despite a heroic 21/7/0 performance by NEC team captain
Anthony Aguiar / iamAnthoknee.
Going to his bench between the third and fourth games, NEC team captain
Anthony Aguiar made a major move to get the 'Grims back in the match, inserting
Owen Kizak / Nightninja into his lineup in a change that altered the complexion of the series.
Bolstered by the substitution, a resurgent Pilgrims team stormed back in the fourth game, claiming a 7-5 victory. In a decisive movement during round twelve, Kizak posted a triple-kill (assisted by Doward) to claim the bracket, tying up the series at two games apiece.
In the fifth and final game of the series, the 'Grims saw their entire lineup step up in a balanced effort. NEC prevailed in a 7-4 win to claim the series and the championship. Aguiar led his team with a 55/36/15 aggregate line for the series.
Competing in organized play for the first time since the spring of 2023, the seventh-seeded 'Grims reached the finals with a 2-1 upset win over the Crusaders of the College of the Holy Cross in the quarterfinals. Then in the semifinals, NEC triumphed over the third-seeded Panthers of the University of Northern Iowa with a 2-0. Congratulations to the whole team on their outstanding achievement!
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
