Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island's newly-created Esports program is adding another monumental honor to what has already been a spectacular season, earning not one, but two invitations to the Collegeiate Esports National Championship Tournament that takes place April 29-May 2.

The Dolphins have racked up more than 70 wins within six different video games competed across the East Coast Conference (ECC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), a run that includes two ECC Championships in two different games (Valorant & Rocket League) and one ECAC Championship in NBA 2k21 (Xbox). Rocket League also played in the ECAC Championship game this past Wednesday night, where they fell in the title match in four games by finals of, 3-5, 3-2OT, 2-3, and 3-7, in what was a spectacular match to watch as both teams played extremely well and either side could have come out on top.
 
However, upon winning the ECC Esports Rocket League title a couple of weeks ago, the team received an automatic bid to the CENC's Tournament, a 16-team single-elimination bracket that sees CSI as the No. 7 seed, going up against No. 2 seed Winthrop University. The teams will face-off on Friday, April 30, at 9:15PM.  This would be their first meeting ever against each other. The Eagles of Winthrop University are 6-1 overall this season having played in two Esports Invitationals, winning one of them and like the Dolphins, losing in the other's championship game. The Eagles only game loses came in their only match loss, while all other six wins have been in straight sets against worthy opponents in both invitationals. Tonight's matchup may be their toughest test yet, but they have played the underdog before, making it to the ECAC Championship as a No. 8 seed, and they have shown they can play through adversity and matchup against anyone on any given night.
 
Meanwhile, the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate (SSBU) team had themselves a stellar season in the ECAC recording a final overall record of 8-2, and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, before falling in the Elite Eight round in a tightly fought three game series. Just when they thought their season might be over, the CENC gave SSBU an at-large bid as the #4 seed in the CENC, most likely, because of the sheer dominance and strength of schedule that they played with all-season long against some very good ECAC opponents, especially towards the end of the season as they were undefeated for the first five weeks of the season.

SSBU drew the No. 5 seed Sacramento State University team, who, ironically enough, is the same team they lost to in the ECAC playoffs a couple of weeks back in three sets, 1-2 (1-0, 0-1, 0-1). Sacramento State just recently lost in the final four of the SSBU ECAC playoffs in straight sets, 2-0 (0-2, 0-2). The Hornets of Sacramento State finished their run with a, 10-3 overall record and a at-large bid into the CENC. The Dolphins SSBU team comprised of James Handibode (Sly), Sofronio Lorenzo (Frio) and Nicolas Lam (ToonNick) will be looking for revenge against the Hornets in what is sure to be a must-see battle of both strategy and skill.

More information, including where to watch live, will be featured on the Esports Schedule Page, as it becomes available.