William Penn Takes Care of Clarke in Season Finale

Oskaloosa--The Statesmen Esports team closed out its inaugural season of Rocket League play by defeating Clarke 3-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Wednesday.

WPU (4-4) claimed the tight victory on a night where two rounds went to extra play.

The Statesmen came out strong as Martin Contreras (Fr., Hinsdale, Ill., Sports Management) scored just nine seconds into the matchup.  After the Pride knotted up the opening game, Aiden Gibbons (Fr., Apollo Beach, Fla., Sports Management) took over with the team's final three scores for a 4-2 victory.

Thando Morebudi (Sr., Pretoria, South Africa, Applied Computer Science) led his squad defensively with two assists and two saves.

William Penn fell behind 3-1 in the second game, but Gibbons provided the heroics with two late scores to overtime, including one with just one second left in regulation.  Unfortunately, despite significant pressure from the Statesmen, CU took the 4-3 to even the bout at 1-1.

Gibbons guided the navy and gold on both ends, tallying three goals along with seven saves.  Morebudi assisted on two scores.

Reminiscent of the opening round, Contreras produced an immediate goal in the third game, scoring just 15 seconds into action.  The Pride answered right back to tie the score, however, and then both sides managed one more goal as they entered overtime locked at 2-2.

Morebudi fortunately gave the Statesmen the 3-2 win as he put a shot into the netting just 30 seconds into OT.  The senior finished with two goals, while Gibbons had two assists and two saves.  Contreras contributed a goal and an assist as well.

William Penn wrapped up its final game of the 2026 Heart Rocket League slate with an emphatic 4-0 win over CU.  Gibbons' stat line included two goals, two assists, and three saves, while Morebudi was good for two goals.  Contreras also assisted on two scores.

"The guys knew this was a must-win match, but unfortunately we did not get the other help in the league that we needed," Head Coach Austin Fagen-Scholes said.  "I love how they played, especially closing things out in the fourth game, and how they handled overtime in the third game after falling in overtime in the second round."