Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham water polo team wrapped up its home schedule on Saturday with a pair of matches against Mercyhurst and Salem International for Senior Day at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center. The Rams didn't disappoint, posting wins in both matches, led by an outstanding effort from senior
R.J. Simmons, who scored six times over the two contests.
With the two win, Fordham improved to 13-11 on the season.
In the opening game of the day, Fordham held off Mercyhurst by a 9-6 score.
Fordham went up 2-0 in the first quarter on goals by
Cameron Shewchuck and Sam Varshisky, but Mercyhurst netted two late tallies, including one at the horn to tie the game at two.
The Rams though would take a 5-4 at halftime, when
Jake Miller-Tolt scored with 2:15 left in the second quarter to break up a four all tie.
Fordham extended the lead to three, 7-4 in the third on early tallies by
Tristen Knoflick and
R.J. Simmons. Then, Miller-Tolt scored twice in the final three minutes of the quarter to make it a four-goal game, 9-5.
Mercyhurst only scored once the rest of the way, leaving Fordham with the 9-6 win.
For Fordham, Miller-Tolt had three goals, two assists, and five steals with Simmons adding two goals, two steals, and an assist. Knoflick notched two goals and an assist, with Varshisky and Shewchuck rounding out the scoring. In net,
Alex Jahns nine stops, including a penalty block, to go with four steals and two assists.
Goalkeeper Alex Jahns
In the nightcap, the Rams downed Salem International, 14-9, as Fordham sent off their two seniors, Simmons and
Jacob Alexander, with a win.
Fordham got out of the gate fast with a 6-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, netting five extra-man goals.
The Rams then scored four times in the second to extend the lead to seven at 10-3, and eventually would win by a 14-9 count.
For Fordham, Simmons netted a game-high four goals to go with two assists and a steal, while Miller-Tolt had two goals, two assists, and four steals. Knoflick and Shewchuck each had two goals and three steals with
Diego Delgado registering two goals, three assists, and a steal.
Joseph Agabs and
Magnus Sims rounded out the scoring with a goal each. In net, Jahns played the first three quarters, posting nine saves with two steals, while
Patrick Coffey played the final quarter making two stops.
The Fordham water polo team will next be in action on Wednesday, November 2
nd, as they travel to Wagner for a conference match-up at 7:30 PM.
