Eagle esports Earns Top-10 Counter-Strike 2 Ranking In NECC National Preseason Poll

Ashland University esports is entering its seventh year within the Eagle athletics department, being founded in the fall of 2018.

Since inception, the program has grown from roughly two dozen student-athletes to including more than 50 student-athletes across various games in which they compete.

Although one of the inaugural games in the program, the Eagles' Counter-Strike 2 team is entering the first year of competition within the NECC (National Esports Collegiate Conference). With the entry to a new competition, the Eagles earned the 10th-highest ranking among collegiate Counter-Strike 2 programs in the nation in the latest College Counter national preseason poll. College Counter included Ashland University on their list of risers as they broke into the top 10, noting a win in the NECC placement matches against No. 16 Drexel landing them in a top spot.

Esports head coach Phillip "PJ" Fiscus congratulated his team on the accomplishment but noted a desire for more.

"I'm glad we finally have a team that is getting nationally recognized and that team has the drive to do whatever it takes to be No. 1," Fiscus stated. "Number 10 is low for where they should be placed, and don't be surprised if you see them in the top three by the end of the month and battling for No. 1 by the end of the year."

Fiscus' determination extends to the team, as the Eagles confidently approach a season-opener against University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Wednesday (Sept. 24).