University of Western Ontario defeated 2018 Champions UC Irvine in the 2019 League of Legends College Championship semifinals. (Image: Riot Games)

Western Ontario just keeps getting better. The 2018 East Conference Champions, Western claimed their second title in a row after a dominant run through the playoffs. The Canadian university lost only three games in as many series.



Returning to the College Championship in 2019, Western’s continued improvements dazzled on the stage, quickly dismantling Big Ten Network Runner-Up Michigan State 2-0 in the quarterfinals. With a first time semifinal berth, Western already proved themselves as a capable force. A loss to the second seeded returning champion, UC Irvine, almost felt expected for a team many assumed still needed more work.



But Western only continued to get better.



After falling into a 2-1 series hole, Western rallied behind an invigorated gameplan and team leadership, winning back-to-back games to stun the California powerhouse, 3-2. Their secret? Play what’s comfortable.



“[We were] working on a few strategies that suited us best,” said Shorthop, the starting botlaner and Team Captain of Western. “We have some of the best mechanical players in their respective roles throughout all of the collegiate scene.”



The first East Conference team to make the Championship finals since University of Toronto, Western faced another giant, Maryville University. The hyper-aggressive top seed proved unbearably strong, eliminating Western and securing the title in a three game sweep.



Disappointed, but hungry for a return, Western Ontario goes into the 2019-2020 season well equipped to contend.

2019 SEASON OVERVIEW

Playing in one of the toughest conferences in College LoL, Western Ontario wasted no time showing off their chops against the East. In the first four weeks, Western accumulated four shutout wins, including a 2-0 against nationally ranked Rochester Institute of Technology.



Western consistently landed within the top five of the ESPN College Coaches Poll and garnered a Team of the Week Honorable Mention, looking increasingly like a conference frontrunner. In week five, they ended up on the receiving end of a 2-0 loss courtesy of Stony Brook. Changes needed to be made.



“After our loss in week five of the East Conference to [Stony Brook], we knew we had to make a change to our starting roster,” Shorthop said.



Calling on a friend, Western brought in Ledo as a coach, while simultaneously switching toplaner Slasher1144 to mid and former botlane sub Gorica to top.



“Gorica learning top and coming into his own as a high quality player through solo-queuing and working with our coach was a massive factor of our success,” Shorthop said.



Results took time to manifest themselves despite the change in personnel. Western appeared vulnerable in a 2-1 win over UMass to close out the season. Slotting into the fourth seed for playoffs, Western adopted the look of an underdog for the first time that season.



After putting in, “a lot of hours of dedication and practice,” along with fostering a new team spirit amid a drastic roster change, Western stormed through playoffs and captured the 2019 East Conference Championship.

TEAM STRENGTHS

Not many teams could turn a late season position and player swap into a benefit. Western showcased their incredible work ethic and determination to improve by not only succeeding with new additions, but excelling. Shorthop mentioned the squad practiced increasingly, even after topping the East before attending the College Championship.



“When we began preparing for the College Championship top eight itself, we knew we could win it all,” he said.



That determination paid off as Western accepted another underdog role in their semifinal face-off with UC Irvine.



“We knew that if we didn’t play at over 110 percent, we didn’t stand a chance.”



Western stuck to comfort, believing in themselves and their gameplan while facing elimination. No one embodied the style more than Gorica, who played Vayne and Kled in the game four and five wins.

ROSTER ANALYSIS

Gorica, along with the rest of the 2019 Western team, all return for the upcoming season. Gorica, Slasher1144 and Shorthop all reprise their positions as well as jungler Julius and support Blazed Nova.



The return of their full finalist roster cannot be undervalued. For a club team, who receives no scholarship or official recruiting help from the university, fielding a previously well-established squad is a must. Especially considering the recruiting prowess of top teams like UC Irvine and Maryville (who already announced their roster for the upcoming season).



“We do not have an official program, so no official recruitment occurs,” Shorthop said. “We consistently compete against not only schools who have gaming arenas, but also schools who recruit top tier talent through a scholarship incentive.”



“However it has always been my viewpoint that a team of talented, driven individuals can overcome any obstacle and we proved that last year.”



The roster definitely has the talent to succeed against the best. All of the starters are ranked Grandmaster or higher, with Julius notching sixth on the North American ladder at the time this was written.

OFFSEASON FOCUS

While the mechanical skill is more than apparent, Shorthop believes growing Western’s macro-level play is their largest opportunity to improve.



“Strengthening our macro play through incorporating new strategies in the form of new champions and ideas will be the focal point for us going forward,” he said.



Western is right to focus on the more cerebral component of LoL going forward. In the Championship series, Maryville squashed any opportunity Western needed to take the lead by consistently being a step ahead. Talent and brute force only carries you so far. A more macro-aware Western squad however would be difficult to slow down.



Despite their evident work ethic, Shorthop noted the offseason has been a nice break after their long postseason run.



“We wanted a break to focus on our own individual goals before reconvening at the start of September,” he said. “We are not actively practicing or playing tournaments together.”



Even with an extended vacation, know Shorthop and Western Ontario have their sights set on the finals yet again.



“All of last year’s roster tasted defeat on the final’s stage and we want to go back and prove that we are the best collegiate team, be it through the same roster or involving new players.”

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