EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell University Rocket League team fell 3-2 to Westcliff University in the NACE Starleague spring season opener on Monday evening, holding their own in the best-of-five series.

On paper, Bushnell (0-1) was the underdog entering the match, but a close five-game series with a talented Westcliff (1-0) squad will provide a confidence boost for the Beacons as they continue a tough conference schedule. All five were one score games with three being decided in overtime.

Westcliff 3, Bushnell 2 (1-2, 3-2, 4-3, 1-2, 2-3)

After dropping the first game, the Beacons trailed once again in the second, 2-0 with under 40 seconds to go, before Kyle Foss scored twice within a span of 20 seconds off assists from Lucas Fenton to tie it up. Foss won a transition 1-v-1 nearly four minutes into overtime to secure the hat trick and the game two win.

The Beacons got out to a 4-0 lead two minutes into the third game, led by three goals from Cole Vamos. Westcliff scored three unanswered goals, but Bushnell held on to go up 2-1 in the series.

The Warriors sent the match to a decisive fifth game after a quick overtime goal in game four. Down by one in the fifth, Vamos tied the score with just over a minute and a half on the clock. Westcliff answered with a goal at the 50-second mark, but the Beacons responded 30 seconds later as Vamos tapped in a rebound off the backboard, tricking two defenders in the process to send the fifth to overtime.

Westcliff took the series with a goal nearly four minutes into the game-five overtime.

Cole Vamos: 6 goals, 1 assist, 11 saves
Kyle Foss: 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 saves
Lucas Fenton: 2 goals, 4 assists, 12 saves

Up next, Bushnell takes on Boise State University on Feb. 13.