CHICAGO – The Saint Xavier University Esports Valorant Varsity team had its 2022-23 season come to an end with a loss to Carolina University (N.C.) in the NACE East 4 Conference Playoffs on Tuesday, March 29. The Rocket League team was also in action over the weekend, taking part and traveling in the Illini Esports Invitational hosted University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

• The Valorant Varsity team feature a lineup of 'Park Jihyo' senior Alfredo Arreguin (Chicago, Ill./Morton CC/Morton West), 'JayCee' sophomore Jonathan Cruz (Whiting, Ind./Lindblom), 'JuJu' senior Julian Rodriguez (Chicago Ridge, Ill./Richards) and 'Sainticer' senior Ray Rodriguez (Chicago, Ill./Washington CC/Cristo Rey Jesuit) and 'TBOP' junior Tien Nguyen (Calumet City, Ill./Bloom). The best-of-three contest was close between the No. 5 seeded Cougars and the No. 4 seed Bruins. CU won game one by a score of 13-11 and they would slip past SXU to advance in the postseason with a 14-12 win in game two.
• Rocket League had a lineup of 'Toast' freshman Marcos Nunez (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community), 'GruesomeOrc' junior Peyton Benes (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) and 'ItsZball' freshman Zuriel Munoz (Chicago, Ill./Back of the Yards College Prep). In group stage play on Friday, March 31, Saint Xavier lost its first match to No. 3 University of Akron (Ohio), 3-0, and they fell to Lincoln Land College (Ill.) by a 3-1 decision. The Cougars defeated the host Fighting Illini to end the day by a 3-1 margin. SXU was eliminated Saturday afternoon by Oakland University (Mich.), 4-1, in the second round of the bracket stage.

Saint Xavier takes the week off and will have Rocket League, Overwatch and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) competing in postseason action starting on Monday, April 10.