Palatine, IL: The Hawks eSports Valorant team capped off a perfect regular season with a 2-1 victory over Cornell College, finishing 7-0. In their toughest test yet, the Hawks battled through intense back-and-forth rounds, dropping their first game of the season but rallying to close out the series in dominant fashion.

Cornell came out aggressive, catching Harper off guard with a full rush in the opening round that resulted in a clean Ace. However, the Hawks quickly regrouped, taking a 3-2 lead and grinding out a hard-fought 13-10 win in Game 1. Game 2 mirrored the first, with rounds being traded throughout before Harper ultimately fell in overtime, 12-14. Determined to finish strong, the Hawks came out firing in Game 3, surging to an 8-1 lead before Cornell could respond. With the damage already done, Harper closed out the series with a commanding 13-6 victory.

Several players stepped up in crucial moments throughout the series:

• Zion Villaluz (NoiZ) delivered clutch performances, securing key 3K rounds on site retakes that kept the Hawks in contention and boosted team morale.
• Giovanni Romero (polar_bear) continued to shine as the team's shotcaller, maintaining composure and leading with confidence. His leadership remains a pillar of the Hawks' success.
• Victoria Jedryk (Vicxs) brought an invaluable presence to the team. While her in-game communication may be unconventional, it provides a much-needed mental reset for her teammates. In a high-stress environment, her ability to keep the team grounded is a rare and essential quality.
• Patrick Olechno (Sloth) once again proved why he's the most dominant player in the league. He dropped 44 kills in Game 1 alone and finished the series with a staggering 97 total. He sealed the final round with a flawless 5K, later admitting, "I didn't even realize I killed them all."
• Emil Zhumagaliyev (Podpivas) played a critical support role, racking up 17 assists in Game 1 and 36 across the series. His impact on site retakes was a game-changer.
• Vikas Jadav (Enthusj) stepped in for Game 3 and made an immediate impact. His sharp aim and well-timed utility helped Harper establish an early lead that Cornell couldn't overcome.

With the regular season complete, the Hawks now turn their attention to the playoffs in the coming weeks, looking to carry their undefeated momentum into the postseason.