A Sacred Heart University (SHU) student won the EA FC Championship and an all-expenses paid trip to Premier League Fan Fest.
Graduate student Foster Abreu recently won at the ePremier league college invitational held at Sacred Heart University on March 23, clinching an all-expenses paid trip after securing a second-place finish in the EA FC championship. The event, held in collaboration with NBC Sports, Play VS, and the ePremier League, saw eight preliminary host venues nationwide, with SHU’s AI Lab on West Campus serving as one of them.
Contributed by Wilson Valois, MA ’25
During the March event, Foster Abreu displayed his skills in EA FC (formerly known as FIFA) alongside fellow college students from across the country. Foster’s performance earned him the opportunity to compete in the EA FC championship held at the Premier League’s fan fest in Nashville from April 6-7.
Reflecting on his experience, Abreu said, “So basically we arrived around 5:00 and we were invited to a concert at the Sky Bar in Nashville and that was kind of our introduction to everyone working the event.”
Despite facing stiff competition, Foster made his way to the finals, ultimately finishing second overall in the country.
“I ended up making it to the finals which was played at the EA FC footprint which was a pop-up tent at the fan fest,” Abreu said. “I ended up losing to the kid from UT Austin in the finals so I finished second overall in the country, but it was still an insane experience and I made it further than I thought I would.”
When asked about his preparation for the event, Foster shared that he approaches gaming as a hobby, playing his games a couple of times a day weekly until the event.
“The rest of the weekend we were able to free roam the fan fest, so I watched some games live with the fans,” Foster said, describing his time at the event.
“We had VIP access all weekend, so we had free food and free drinks, got to meet some former professional soccer players and also people that work for NBC sports,” said Abreu, highlighting the perks of attending the fan fest in Nashville.
Prof. Andrew Miller highlighted the event held on March 23 and explained the significance of dedicated training and practice in esports competitions.
“Similar to preparing for any athletic competition, an esports competitor must practice extensively to achieve success in a national competition like this,” Miller said.
Graduate student Mia Sansanelli reflected on the success of the March event and emphasized the importance of community engagement and preparation.
“I think the key to a successful esports event lies in the preparation and overall interest of your community,” Sansanelli said, commending the efforts of the NBC Sports and Play VS faculty in organizing and executing the event. “The NBC Sports and Play VS faculty did a great job branding and executing this event and it gave our esports program a good look at what we hope to achieve at our annual Connecticut Esports Showcase in April.”
The journey from SHU’s tournament to the national stage in Nashville underscores the growing prominence of esports and the dedication of students like Foster Abreu. As esports continue to gain traction, events like these serve as platforms for displaying talent and fostering a sense of community among gaming enthusiasts across college campuses.
