New York State Upstate Tournament

Binghamton

The Hammerheads started their 2009 Upstate Tournament with revenge on their minds. Syracuse's first round game was against the only team they had lost to in the 2008 regular season, the SUNY Binghamton Devils. The boys in orange and blue jumped out to an early lead thanks to powerful runs from depth. In the second half, the Hammerheads used back play to extend their lead. Except for a few handling errors, Syracuse looked sharp in their first round win. The final score was Syracuse 31 Binghamton 7.

St. Bonaventure

Syracuse's second round match was against New York States newest Division I team, the St. Bonaventure Outlaws. The first half was played evenly by both teams, with a score of Syracuse 6 St. Bonaventure 3 at halftime. However, the Hammerheads were able to pull away as they dominated scrums and spread they field wide; Sryacuse added three tires and one penalty kick in the second half. The final score was 25 to 6 in favor of Syracuse.

Brockport

The NY State Division I Championship placed the Hammerheads against one of the best teams in the state, the SUNY Brockport Doggies. Fatigue was evident early in the game, shown through early minor infractions by both teams. After numerous scrums, the Hammerheads finally added excitement and points to the first half with long runs from their backs as well as penalty conversion kicks. As the match progressed it was evident fitness and discipline would determine the victor. The Hammerheads were able to take a commanding lead by outworking their opponents in the scrum and retaining possession,. Also, the backs were able to run the ball at pace and find holes in the Doggies' defense. The Hammerheads played discipline rugby and were able to win the penalty count. The final score was Syracuse 26 SUNY Brockport 0.