BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Southern Virginia University League of Legends team capped off a dominant season with a 3-1 victory over top-seeded Oklahoma City University to win the 2025 NECC Division VI National Championship, marking a historic first national title for SVU Esports.
The Knights completed a perfect 10-0 regular season—the only team out of 32 in Division VI to do so—and cruised through the playoffs with wins over PVCC Pumas (2-0) and CSUDH Cardinal (2-1) before facing Oklahoma City University in the national final on April 29. Their season also included victories over major programs such as Christopher Newport University, UNC, UNF, Baylor, and the University of Houston. They clinched the NECC Division VI East title with playoff wins over Kettering University, Conestoga College, and the University of Michigan-Flint.
In the national championship match—a best-of-five series—the Knights opened with a statement in Game 1, led by junior Ethan Ferguson who dominated the jungle matchup, giving SVU a clean and confident opening win. Oklahoma City, the western conference champion and top seed, answered in Game 2 with a well-coordinated attack that countered SVU's early aggression. The Knights fought back but ultimately dropped the game, tying the series 1-1.
"We've been training all year for this moment," said head coach Kevin Lamb. "We've been tested time and time again, and this group not only knows how to survive the pressure—but how to thrive in it."
Game 3 proved to be a turning point. Despite sophomore Connor Rosendahl struggling in mid lane, sophomore Will Haight dominated in the top lane. The Knights faced intense pressure, nearly losing their Nexus towers before finding a favorable fight near their red-side jungle. That fight led to a Baron take, and senior Josh Cannon—nicknamed "King of Clutch"—delivered a game-winning Thresh hook on the enemy jungler to secure the 2-1 series lead.
Going into Game 4, the Knights were brimming with confidence. Senior Stephen Roberts took over on his signature mage bot lane while Rosendahl bounced back in mid on an AD champion. Both players established dominant early leads, which the team converted into a commanding victory. The Knights closed the series 3-1, earning their first national championship in program history.
"One of the biggest strengths of this team is our ability to win long series," said Lamb. "We get a read on opponents, make adjustments, and we've dominated in Game 4 and Game 5 situations all season. This was no different."
The Knights finished the spring with a 49-12 game record, capping off one of the most impressive seasons in SVU Esports history.
The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) has organized competitive collegiate play since 2020 and currently features over 300 schools. It emphasizes organized competition, inclusive community, and high-quality broadcast experiences across all levels of collegiate esports.
