SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- With the ides of March past, Spring Break over and done with and the snow (finally) melting off the turf and buildings, the Hammerheads took to the field again to open their spring season with a friendly match slated against St. Bonaventure University. Through the magic contacts of coach Bob Wilson and the clever planning of Match Secretary Joe Burpoe, the Hammerheads were, for only the second time in the team’s existence, able to play a game on the turf of the Carrier Dome. With the stage set Bonnies and the Hammerheads kicked off for what would become a 5-quarter scrimmage. The first two quarters would see tries by inside center Kyle Harris and John Wilson, but Bonnies would answer with two tries of their own through better ruck play and a strong pick-and-go based game. While they controlled the ruck and close around the rucks, the lack of discipline would prove advantageous to the Hammerheads as their opponents were pinged multiple times for being offside at the break down and dissension against the official. The boys in blue would strike once again before the end of the third quarter through center Dave Bliss, making the score 3 tries to 2. The last two quarters would see more of the newer players placed into their first rugby games and while practicing has prepared them to play, the lack of conditioning would begin to show and prove costly. The last two quarters saw a four try overhaul by St. Bonaventure coming mainly from their well executed forward play, their control of the gain line and their support running. The home team would fight back to within two tries but injuries began to plague the side. The subs would play a vital role in keeping the opposition scoreless until the final whistle. This loss takes the Hammerheads to 0-1 on the Spring season, with more tournaments and games to come Syracuse looks to put up more points and more wins.

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- As the snow melts and the temperatures rise the Hammerheads prepare to start their 2011 Spring season. With games slated against St. Joseph's University, Ivy League stand-outs Columbia University and appearance in the Cherry Blossoms Tournament in DC, and the Collegiate Cup in Philly, the Spring should prove to be a time of both growth for the club as well as a great chance to work in newer players. Practices will resume when the players reconvene in Syracuse.

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- Syracuse has broken its record of most points scored in a game and biggest margin of victory, 102 which took place on October 18th 2008 versus rival Cornell, this weekend versus conference bottom dwellers Buffalo St with a final score of 103-0. The game featured a team looking for closure after a tough defeat the previous week against SUNY Buffalo. "It was a lot of fun" said outside center David Bliss. Syracuse closes out its season 5-1 and would need help from Binghamton to make its 2nd straight National Tournament appearance. (Art done by Andrew Jerz Contact: wickedrudeandy@gmail.com)

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- Buffalo had to thwart the threat of two goal line penetrations in the last minutes in a half that featured Syracuse controlling the ball with Buffalo on the back foot playing defense in their own half for nearly the entire second 40. The Game featured two undefeated team's playing for sole possession of the conference and controlling their own destiny enroute to winning the conference, which decided against playoffs. Buffalo got off to a fast start going up 7-0 but Syracuse came roaring back with two quick trys to take a 14-7 lead. Buffalo got help from a penalty from Fly Half Andy Dixon and a Try from Matt Agugliaro. The last play was a break away try that bounced off the head of Dan Corcoran from Syracuse but was called back for being a knock on and the stoppage ended the half at 15-14. The second half started off with another penalty off the foot of Andy Dixon bringing the score to 18-14 but Syracuse answered with a try of their own and the 4th lead change in the favor of Syracuse 19-18. Two more penalties were granted to Buffalo on their only 2 other trips into Syracuse half by Referee Sean McKenna putting Buffalo up 24-19. The remainder of the Game was played around Buffalo's 22 meter line and Syracuse was held up not once but twice in Goal for what would have been a game winning moment. Buffalo wins 24-19

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- Syracuse kept on pace for 1st place and a birth to the National D1 Tournament by keeping St. Bonaventure at arms length. The match was evenly matched with the Bonnies taking advantage of Syracuse's mistakes which came much too often. Missed opportunities seemed to be Syracuse's haunter as the match hung in the balance with a game winning penalty attempt granted to St. Bonaventure with time up. The ball ending up being a hair away from being a converted penalty was waved off and the game ended finding Syracuse at the top of the league fixtures.

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- Binghamton showed that the previous weeks win against St. Bonaventure was no fluke by using an assortment of kicking to take a 22-19 halftime lead. Binghamton continued the fight with the game going back and forth for much f the day. Syracuse never got the feeling that they were pulling away thanks to pressure by Binghamton and a string of mental lapses. The Hammerheads continued to play to the whistle and the game ended 36-31 in favor of the boys from Syracuse.

SYRACUSE NY (SURFC) -- In the week 2 of NYS league play the Brockport Doggies came to Syracuse, NY to face the reigning Champions but that is not how Brockport sees it. Brockport was the only team in league play to beat Syracuse in the 2009-2010 campaign and once again they proved to be a self-motivated squad. The Doggies as usually played gritty with a never say die attitude keeping themselves in the game. The Hammerheads however had not lost at home the previous 3 seasons and saw this game as redemption for that one loss holding onto a 15-5 lead at half. Syracuse would continue to bolster it lead but mistakes and penalties would allow Brockport 10 more points. In the end Syracuse came away with a 28-15 victory. Syracuse 2nds played Ithaca and lost 64-0.

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- Cuse opened up it NYS league schedule against a team, Albany, that showed much heart in the previous league season. The Hammerheads coming off a successful preseason got off to a quick start get quick try after quick try. Albany kept to a consistent game plan off the pick and drive getting to the gain line and rumbling along for a few extras yards. The Albany strategy did help them control possession but when turnovers happened Syracuse quickly exposed their weaknesses taking it the full field to a 57-5 half time lead. After making some personnel changes and penalties adding up quickly for the Cuse team in the second half the game ended up finishing at 69-12. The Syracuse 2nd side also won their match on the day.

SYRACUSE, NY (SURFC) -- The Rugby team at Syracuse University opened up the 2010 Fall campaign in Mid August with a slew of returning players, a refreshed coaching staff fresh off summer seminars and a promising recruiting class. The one-week Mini camp players returned to, had the Hammerheads working had twice a day with intra-squad games peppered into the weeks training schedule. The mini camp culminated a win against the local men’s team, the Syracuse Chargers. Syracuse’s next match would be on the preseason tour to Canada opening with Queens College. Although the U.S. Border Patrol forced the Hammerheads to leave some key players home, Cuse proved to be too hard to penetrate for the Queen’s College boys. As the Defense held strong Syracuse slowly capitalized on mistakes and field position to win the game 12-5. Syracuse’s 2nd side for the weekend lost 33-0. Staying in Kingston, Ontario the next day would see the Royal Military College’s rookies slotted against Syracuse B and Concordia Stingers traveling from Montreal, Quebec for the Syracuse first XV. The day would start out against the RMC rookies with Syracuse getting off to a quick lead. RMC would prove to be more experienced then initially expected but the Syracuse B came away with the hard fought effort. In the Hammerheads 2nd game of the tour, defense was again the strength for the team and had been improved since the day before. The Stingers frustrated could not find a way to execute regardless of their size and strength. Syracuse’s first XV wins 17-5.

SANTA BARBARA, CA (ARN) -- The third matchup pitted Arizona against Syracuse and there wasnt much between the two as at the end of 80 minutes the Wildcats emerged victorious 25-20. The game was an arm wrestle from start to finish and Syracuse never quit. The #2 seed from the Northeast gave it their all right to the final play when they scored the last try of the contest, but in the end it wasnt quite enough to get them over the hump. Arizona edged in front in the first half and stayed there, although at about the midway point of the second half, Syracuse trailed 18-15 and the game hung in the balance. In the final analysis, U of A just had too much firepower including the likes of Tim Moxness and Tyler Chastain and the Cats were able to hang on for the victory.