Yesterday the Hammerheads journeyed 130 miles north to take on Queens University in Ontario. After a brutal, gutsy match, they fell just short in a 32-28 loss.

 

              Queens got on the board early, scooping up a Hammerhead knock on in the 5th minute and racing in for a try to make it 7-0. Syracuse bounced right back, as senior flyhalf Alex Hodgkinson notched two penalty kicks to narrow the gap to 7-6. After falling just short of the try zone on a few possessions, the Hammerheads took the lead after a brilliant 95 meter run by junior fullback Ethan Palleschi, who zig-zagged through the Queens defense, then offloaded to senior wing Matt Hoalcraft, who scored untouched.

 

              Queens added a try to bring the score at halftime to 13-12, Hammerheads. Hodgkinson added another penalty early on in the second period, and the Hammerheads hit paydirt again as sophomore flanker Jake Smith broke through the Queens defense and deftly offloaded to junior second row Sam Reimnitz, who passed to Palleschi for the second try of the day, bringing the score to 23-12, Hammerheads.

 

              Unfortunately, Queens took advantage of Syracuse’s several injuries and penalties to score 20 unanswered points and take a 32-23 lead toward the end of the match. After several strong runs fell just short, Hodgkinson scored the Hammerheads final try of the day, diving into the try zone on a penalty tap as time expired to bring the final score to 32-28 in favor of Queens.

 

              Hammerhead tries were scored by Ethan Palleschi, Matt Hoalcraft, and Alex Hodgkinson. Hodgkinson was also 3 for 4 on penalty kicks, and 2 for 3 on conversions.

 

              In the B-side match, the teams played 13 on 13 with uncontested scrums. Syracuse fell 22-5, with the lone Hammerhead try coming from junior scrumhalf Jay Carmody.

 

              This weekend concluded the Hammerheads’ preseason matches. They open Empire Conference play next Saturday as they travel to play Fordham.