Match Recap: UCLA vs. DigiPen & UBC

Tespa’s Overwatch Collegiate Series starts to heat up as UCLA’s Overwatch A team took on DigiPen Institute of Technology (DP) and University of Bristish Columbia (UBC) on 10/11 Wednesday. The Bruins ended the day with mixed results: 1 win and 1 loss.

UCLA’s Overwatch A team started the game strong against DP’s team. The Bruins decided to start their attack on Numbani with a modified ‘dive’ composition. Instead of the conventional ‘dive’ composition centered around Tracer, the Bruins prioritized their Brad “raxa” J.’s comfort pick, McCree. Alexander “sireku” G. steps into the role of main tank, opting for Winston. Noah “AnotherDax” M., who played the role of main tank in their last games, switches to off-tank and picked D.va for the extra peel potential for his teammates. Brian “Pip” S. jumps onto Genji and Harsha “harsha” B. goes for Zenyatta to form parts of the traditional ‘dive’ composition. William “Tsang” T. rounded up the composition with Mercy.

Raxa started off the attack on a strong note, grabbing 3 kills swiftly on his own while the rest of the team cleaned up the remaining stragglers of DP. The Bruins were able to grab the first point on Numbani without further trouble. On the back of an incredible Deadeye grabbing 3 kills, the Bruins managed to push the payload to the final point. The Bruins decided to switch things up a little in their defence, picking a Torbjorn and Orisa combination. DP attempted to counter UCLA’s strategy with a Widowmaker pick but raxa was successful in putting pressure on Widowmaker, neutralizing the threat. DP managed to push the payload close to the final point but was denied a second chance by a good Graviton Surge from AnotherDax.

Moving on to Horizon Lunar Colony. UCLA decided to rely on Widowmaker and Junkrat as their main sources of damage. Such an offensive duo was rare due to their inconsistency but the Bruins were successful in pressuring DP into overtime but ultimately lost the map as they were unable to get a single tick on the second point due to some heroic efforts from DP’s Roadhog.

Lijiang Tower was the deciding third map. The Bruins closed out Lijiang Tower by taking two consecutive points convincingly, showing superior teamwork and mechanical skill.

The same however could not be said for the game against UBC. UBC pushed through the first point on Hanamura quickly after the Bruins’ frontlines crumbled due to the surprise Reaper pick. UBC’s beefy, non-meta composition with three tanks managed to overpower the Bruins on the second point as well and left UCLA confused. UCLA adapted and pushed through the first point with a triple tank composition of their own. With sireku on Reinhardt, AnotherDax on Zarya and harsha on Roadhog, UCLA’s tanky frontlines allowed raxa on Widowmaker to get crucial kills to take the first point. Despite having a strong push on the second point, a few small mistakes would allow UBC’s respawns to wrest control of the point from the Bruins.

The Bruins picked King’s Row next and decided to have raxa on Widowmaker and Pip on Pharah. Despite their best efforts, the Bruins could not utilize their ultimate abilities to take the first point. UBC’s team obtained the win over UCLA deservingly, utilizing their ultimate abilities to incredibly well. Sireku’s Graviton Surge did not result in any kills due to a well-timed Sound Barrier and the Bruins fell to a Graviton Surge and Dragonstrike combination to lose the point and the game.

UCLA’s Overwatch A team will be back same time next Wednesday on Overwatch’s Tespa Collegiate Series. Stay tuned for updates!