Angelo Fernandez looks to score. Photo by Robert Cifone.

Posted: Mar 15, 2024

Rocket League Gold battles to five-game loss to Mount Vernon Nazarene

By Carl Zappa III

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University Rocket League Gold (2-4) lost a tough 3-2 contest to Mount Vernon Nazarene University (1-5) March 15.

Game 1

Carlow Purple subbed in AJ Nguyen for Zachary Taylor for this series.

The Celtics opened the scoring at 4:14 with an Angelo Fernandez goal and a Brady Fest assist to put Carlow up 1-0.

MVNU found the equalizer with 1:36 left to tie the score 1-1 which ultimately sent game one to overtime.

It took 36 seconds for the Cougars to score the game winner in overtime and take game one by a score of 2-1.

Game 2

Nearly half of the game passed before either team to find a goal, and it was Fernandez for Carlow who found it, unassisted, at 2:36.
Continuing his offensive assault, Fernandez scored again at 2:28 to double the Carlow lead. Fest scored for Carlow at 2:11 to cap off the 30 second frenzy and put the Celtics up 3-1.

The Cougars roared back, as they buried their first goal at 1:44 and then again at 1:08 to make it 3-2.
Continuing to mount the comeback, MVNU tied the game 3-3 with 59 seconds left.

Fest put Carlow back on top 4-3 at 0:36 with an aerial goal and followed that up with a long goal to put the game away 5-3 in favor of Carlow.

Game 3

MVNU struck the first blow by scoring at 3:40 to take a 1-0 lead.
They next goal came at 2:58 on an Cougars center and finish to expand their lead to 2-0.
MVNU was threatening again at 1:00, but Nguyen produced a huge save for the Celtics to deny the opportunity and keep Carlow alive.
Fest was able to score with no time remaining on the clock to prevent the shutout, but it wasn't enough as the game ended 2-1 in favor of MVNU.

Game 4
Carlow opened game four with heavy pressure and a shot from Nguyen, but MVNU was able to make the save out of the gate.

Fernandez scored first in game four on a Nguyen assist to put Carlow up 1-0 with 3:18 to play.
MVNU answered at 2:16 with a goal of their own to make the score even at 1-1.
With just 28 seconds remaining, Fest broke the tie and slotted a top bin shot to give Carlow the 2-1 lead and secure victory in game four.

Game 5

MVNU was able to block a Carlow clear and draw first blood with a goal at 4:05.

Each team was producing several shots and saves, but it was Carlow who scored next at 2:44 on a Fest redirection goal on a Fernandez assist,1-1 all.
Fest was then able to knock home the rebound from a Nguyen shot to put Carlow up 2-1 with 2:07 remaining in the final game.

MVNU wasn't to be denied however, as they were able to pull even at 2-2 with 38 seconds left. The Cougars nearly won the game with just one second on the clock, but Nguyen sent the game into overtime with an incredible last second save.
The overtime action was unbelievable on both ends of the pitch with each team generating and denying multiple opportunities.
MVNU was able to find the game winner 4:41 into overtime – nearly double the length of a regulation match.