Esports 9/16/2025 9:55:00 PM

Blinn Rocket League hangs tough in NACE loss to Minnesota-Mankato

The Buccaneers will face Texas Tech in a Rocket League match on Sept. 23

Esports 9/16/2025 9:55:00 PM

Blinn Rocket League hangs tough in NACE loss to Minnesota-Mankato

The Buccaneers will face Texas Tech in a Rocket League match on Sept. 23

The Blinn College esports team dropped a Rocket League match to Minnesota State University-Mankato on Tuesday, falling 3-1 in a best-of-five National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) series.

The Buccaneers dropped to 0-2 in the NACE Varsity Premier West Central Conference.

Competing for Blinn was Edward Tejada, Aaron Konen, and Vallentino Rossi.

Rocket League combines elements of soccer with fast-paced car mechanics. Teams of three players use rocket-powered vehicles to hit a ball into the opponent's goal. The team with the most goals during a five-minute round wins.

"While the result was disappointing, the performance showed that we have the talent to go toe-to-toe with some of the toughest opponents," Bucs head coach and Rocket League manager Kyle Murto said.

Mankato took a 1-0 win in the opening round and took a two-game series lead with a 6-0 triumph in the second round. Blinn made adjustments in round three and rebounded for a 4-2 victory to make it a 2-1 series.

"That third-round win proved that not only could we compete with Mankato, but that we could also outplay them," Murto said. "In round four, we followed a similar script as we held our own throughout, but two costly mistakes in the final minute swung momentum in Mankato's favor."

The Mavericks responded with 4-2 win in the fourth round to clinch the series.

"While the result stings, there are plenty of positives to take away," Murto explained. "Against a team favored on paper, we demonstrated stretches of high-level play and proved we are capable of competing with and beating top programs in our conference. Our biggest challenge right now isn't skill, it's mental. If we can get out of our own heads and play with confidence, this team has the potential to deliver big results as the season continues."

Up next for Blinn's Rocket League squad is a NACE bout against Texas Tech University at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 53 national championships since 1987.

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Players Mentioned

Aaron Konen: Freshman; Rocket League

Vallentino Rossi: Sophomore; Rocket League

Players Mentioned

Aaron Konen
: Freshman; Rocket League

Vallentino Rossi
: Sophomore; Rocket League