The Hurricanes would take the two seed out of the prelims and slide into the quarterfinals.
Sunday competition started off hot. X-Factor surprised Red Legion, knocking them out of the finals for the first time this season. Damage, still simmering over a disputed call in Tampa that cost them their shot at the semis would get a rematch again at Impact, but couldn’ t make good on the opportunity. Impact took them down to the wire yet again, winning 3-2. The Hurricanes got the best of Arsenal, and PBFit ended their weekend with a heartbreak 2-1 loss to Seattle Uprising.
The field was playing slow and tactical all weekend, but competition tightened up in the semis as every match was fought to a one-point margin. Impact would barely edge out Uprising 2-1, and X-Factor tamed the‘ Canes 3-2.
In the finals, Impact went buck. Playing as if they had something to prove, they knocked X-Factor around with a 5-2 win to take the top of the podium and claim third place in the overall season rankings over San Antonio.
With the World Cup on the horizon, the Pro Division is truly wide open. The top ten of the eighteen Pro squads are still mathematically in the running for a series win, and four more still have a chance at a medal. With players shifting squads between Impact and Damage, it will be interesting to see if these two teams can come together and gel. But in truth, with just one event remaining, it is still anyone’ s series to win.
Semi Pro
Three teams are leading the pack in the Semi Pro Division so far this season BR Factory, LA Collision, and Wyldside Distortion.
LA Collision put it all together for this event, going undefeated from start to finish. In the prelims, they put the field on notice issuing a 5-0 to NYX, and then went on a run. In a series of five one-point matches, they edged their way to the top of the podium for gold at this event, and a two seed in the season rankings going into the final event.
Photo By John McGloughlin www. paintball. media
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