Overwatch League Stage 3: New York Excelsior barely survive Houston Outlaws

The Houston Outlaws have struggled to play consistently so far in Stage 3.

The New York Excelsior started the week with a shocking loss, handed to them by the Boston Uprising. But even with the loss, New York was solidly at the top of the standings going into Stage 3.

The Houston Outlaws had much more on the line going into this match. With post-season playoffs in view on the horizon, the Outlaws need to start winning to keep themselves in contention. However, ever since Stage 2, Houston has struggled to play consistently. Going into this battle with New York, the Outlaws were on a two-game losing streak. They would need to bring their best if they wished to stay competitive with New York.

Map One: Volskaya Industries

First on defense, Houston held their ground very well, with Jake on Tracer meeting Saebyeolbe toe-for-toe on causing trouble. With less than a minute remaining, New York was finally able to mount a successful attack and even then got stalled by Jake so that they capped the point with just 16 seconds left.

But cap they did, earning themselves some new minutes on the clock to attack point B. Houston were only able to throw New York back once before the Excelsior settled themselves onto the point for keeps. With 1:18 left, New York finished point B.

Faster than New York, Houston found themselves in possession of point A. Once again, Jake’s Tracer was integral in getting a first pick on New York’s Libero to make the Excelsior vulnerable to the rest of the team. What’s more, the Outlaws were able to snowball right onto point B, with Jake continuing to control the area around the objective while LiNkzr went to town on Genji. With nearly 4 minutes still on the clock, Houston finished up point B.

On attack once again, New York nearly found their opening after Libero domed Houston’s Bani on Mercy. However, FCTFCTN pressured Libero enough for him to need to back away while Rawkus won a 1-on-1 duel against Saebyeolbe elsewhere on the map. The Excelsior had barely enough time to try again, and what offense they could hastily throw together failed to make a dent on the point.

This brought the map to Houston’s second attack run. LiNkzr started off right away with a hot finger, headshotting Libero within seconds. Libero was resurrected, but that didn’t end up mattering because LiNkzr went on to headshot Saebyeolbe at point-blank range. LiNkzr then followed that up with another killing blow onto Libero, with Ark falling next. With LiNkzr putting on a Widowmaker clinic, Houston easily got the one tick they needed to win the map.

Map Score: Excelsior 2, Outlaws 3

Match Score: Excelsior 0, Outlaws 1

Map Two: Blizzard World

Pine for New York and Muma for Houston entered the roster for this map. Pine, however, was unable to made a true difference for his team on attack, especially after getting floored by Rawkus. But fortunately for New York, they also had a flanking Saebyeolbe, who was able to take out Bani in the backline. This led to New York grabbing two ticks on the point. They would take the last tick a little bit later.

Houston defended the payload furiously, forcing New York to fight tooth and nail for every inch. Pine and LiNkzr traded blows time and again, locked in a Widowmaker duel, while Saebyeolbe on Tracer and Jake on Junkrat wreaked havoc on the ground for both sides. It wasn’t until the clock was in overtime that New York cleared the path to find their way to the second checkpoint.

Moving onto the last stretch of the map, Pine snuck behind Houston and started to rain down headshots uncontested. While those kills did net some payload movement, the Outlaws used their closer spawn point to stabilize over the payload and New York ended up falling just short.

Right away, Houston notched themselves two ticks on point A thanks in large part to LiNkzr on McCree shutting down Pine’s Widowmaker immediately. On the Outlaws’ next push, LiNkzr once again came up big with a finishing blow on Saebyeolbe. That, along with the rest of the eliminations Houston got, was enough to finish up point A.

Houston was slowed down considerably in the map’s next area. Saebyeolbe single-handedly shredded through both Bani and LiNkzr with a Pulse Bomb, then followed it up with damage onto the remaining members of the Outlaws. Pine then helped stagger Houston as they tried to come back to the payload. With time running out, the Outlaws mounted one last desperation attack on the cart but soon enough met their end.

Map Score: Excelsior 3, Outlaws 1

Match Score: Excelsior 1, Outlaws 1

Next: Stage 3: London Spitfire barely survives Florida Mayhem

Map Three: Nepal

Mano, Anamo and Libero came in for New York on the third map of the series. On Village, New York ran a Reinhardt in front of a Bastion turret that caught Houston off guard at first. But the Outlaws recovered nicely after Jake landed a three-kill Riptire. Houston would hold the point up to 47 percent before they were pressured off by a newly composed New York. From there, the Excelsior took over, stopping the Outlaws with one ultimate after another.

Moving onto Sanctum, it felt like Houston was taking turns getting hooked by New York’s Meko on Roadhog. Those kills gave London the point first, but Houston would be able to flip the point with New York only up 40 percent. With Jake on Junkrat helping them along, the Outlaws built up to 80 percent before giving it up. Unlike like point, Houston flipped the point back quickly this time and ended with the map in their possession.

The map ended on Shrine. Able to secure themselves the better positioning, Houston took control of the point first. New York came back to the point with Libero now on Pharah, but it was Saebyeolbe peppering in damage from just outside the point combined with Mano on Winston that finally won the long engagement for the Excelsior. With the point in their possession, Libero was able to contribute more tangibly as Pharah, raining down damage as Houston tried to get back to the point. In the end, his rockets would get completely shutdown by LiNkzr on McCree and Houston retook the point to earn themselves a win.

Map Score: Excelsior 1, Outlaws 2

Match Score: Excelsior 1, Outlaws 2

Map Four: Route 66

Pine came back into the New York roster for the fourth map in the series. On attack, it took a while for New York to get the ball rolling due in large part to Houston winning the Tracer and Widowmaker battle. After a hefty stall, New York finally found their way to the first checkpoint. Two battles later, the Excelsior had found their way to the second checkpoint as well. In the last stretch of the map, Houston battled New York while New York battled the clock. With Pine’s help, New York drew close to the end and just had to overcome one lengthy, last-ditch stall from Houston to finish the map.

Instead of Widowmaker, LiNkzr went Hanzo as Houston went on attack. Even though LiNkzr was shut down by Mano, the rest of New York was unable to stay alive, resulting in the Outlaws reaching the first checkpoint relatively quickly. But the Excelsior doubled down in the next portion of the map, with Jjonak, Pine and Saebyeolbe all causing Houston a whole mess of trouble. Completely dominated, Houston was unable to make any more forward progress.

Map Score: Excelsior 3, Outlaws 1

Match Score: Excelsior 2, Outlaws 2

Map Five: Oasis

Muma and Boink were in for Houston while Pine stayed in for New York on the tiebreaker map. Starting on University, Pine led the way on Junkrat to go against the Jakerat and managed to catch Jake unawares. But Houston got control of the point first, with LiNkzr zipping all over the objective to contest as New York tried to flip it. The Excelsior were decisively felled by a three-kill Riptire from Jake.

Pine came back as Pharah to attempt to directly counter Jake. With no one on Houston equipped to handle the rockets, the Outlaws quickly melted from the point. The next engagement was furious and lengthy, but expertly played by the Outlaws, with each member of the time finding a crucial New York pick. Houston was able to flip and take the objective.

Moving onto Gardens, Houston showed a new composition with Rawkus on Moira and Jake on Sombra. The change paid off, with the Outlaws taking control of the point first. Even so, New York never stopped fighting; the skirmish did, however, end up adding a hefty chunk to Houston’s percentage on the point. But New York was able to come back from that. Ultimately, both teams found themselves at 99 percent and it was the Excelsior clinging with dear life to the point to force Oasis to its last point.

On City Center, New York got the point first and was able to maintain until 99 percent. Houston flipped the point for just a second before the Excelsior stormed back and ripped the point, and the series, right from under them.

Map Score: Excelsior 2, Outlaws 1

Final Match Score: Excelsior 3, Outlaws 2