(Editors note: the photos displayed on this site were taken prior to March 2020)

Moon, PA- RMU Rocket League has advanced to the Finals of the NACE Rocket League Spring Cup following their 3-0 victory over Rollins College in the Semifinals last night. RMU looked sharp all evening, connecting on a number of difficult passing plays to set up some spectacular goals. 

RMU once again stuck with their lineup of captain Ryan Conti (Slurpe), Michael Campbell (Reprivation), and Eric Klages (SkiPi). This is the lineup they have been using throughout the NACE Spring Cup. 

Game 1: RMU wins 5-0

SkiPi got the team going in Game 1 with a goal from distance just over a minute into the game. From there, the scoreboard was dominated by Reprivation. He would go on to score each of the Colonials' next 4 goals. His goals included a Rollins own goal, a beautiful aerial off a lob pass, a redirection from in tight, and a last second goal from distance. 

SkiPi also looked very sharp in Game 1, highlighted by his unreal save to keep the game at 3-0 just before the halfway point. Rollins fought the ball past the initial challenge from RMU's defense and shot it toward an empty net. SkiPi came flying in at top speed and caught up to the ball at the goalline, hitting it off the post and back away from the net. He also picked up 3 assists in the game. 

Game 2: RMU wins 5-2

Coming off a huge victory in Game 1, Rollins quickly snapped RMU back into reality in Game 2. Rollins scored 7 seconds into the game to take the early lead. Rollins came with much more offensive pressure in Game 2 than they had earlier, but a few lucky bounces and a few big saves kept it 1-0 through the early parts of the game. A fortunate bounce led to Slurpe tying the game at 1, with a 50/50 ball being deflected off the sidewall and in.

The captain also got the go ahead goal with 1:26 to play, as his excellent individual play through the left corner ends with a goal to make it 2-1. In a huge swing of momentum, Reprivation made a save on the goalline to maintain the lead, then seconds later he sets up SkiPi with a beautiful aerial play to make it 3-1 with a minute to go. Slurpe added a few more fantastic setups of his own for both his teammates in what ended as a 5-2 victory for Robert Morris.

Game 3: RMU wins 3-0

Entering Game 3, the team was playing confidently knowing how the first two games had went. Robert Morris and Rollins both were playing tight defense, and both teams playing more physically than they had in Game 1 or 2. It took nearly 3 minutes for the first team to score, but the team that did was RMU. Slurpe airdribbled beautifully from the wall toward the center of the field, where he set it up on a silver platter for Rep to launch the aerial shot and break the tie, 1-0 Colonials.

Rep added two more goals before the game's end including one as time expired to complete the hat trick, but more importantly the game and series. RMU wins Game 3 by a score of 3-0, and wins the Best of 5 series 3-0.

Postgame and Beyond:
 

With their win, RMU punches their ticket to the NACE Rocket League Spring Cup Finals!  They will be getting a rematch against Mizzou, who the Colonials already have some postseason experience against. The Colonials and Tigers met in the Semifinals of the fall season, a match in which Missouri won 3-0. They would go on to win the championship for the fall season. 

Senior captain Ryan Conti is looking forward to a rematch, and in his post game interview added, 'I'm ready. After getting knocked out in semis last semester, that's what I want.' Win or lose, it is very possible to be Conti's final match as a member of the Colonials Rocket League team. 

The Finals series will be Monday, May 11th at 8pm EST. The Finals will be streamed once again on twitch.tv/rmucolonials.  

Alexander Gagnon '21
Club Sport Information Director Slurpe: 2 goals, 5 assists, 5 saves, 8 shots
Reprivation: 8 goals, 3 assists, 6 saves, 16 shots
SkiPi: 3 goals, 3 assists, 4 saves, 6 shots