By Tom Terzulli
Junior keeper Alex Jahns had a solid weekend in net for the Rams. (Courtesy of Fordham Athletics)
Long time Fordham Water Polo head coach, Bill Harris, honored captain R.J. Simmons and teammate Jack Alexander on Senior Night at the Colonel Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center on Saturday, Oct. 29.
“It’s really contrasting emotions. In one sense, you’re happy they got a great education and had a great career here, and you’re sad to see two talented players go,” Harris said.
Emotions ran high with the pair playing their final home matches in a Fordham cap. Through the efforts of the four-year players and their teammates, the Rams won both contests as they said goodbye to their valiant team leaders.
The special day began with an afternoon matchup against the Mercyhurst Lakers. The Rams went up 2-0 early on scores from junior Cameron Shewchuck and sophomore Samuel Varshisky. But the first frame ended in a tie after the Lakers netted two late goals, including one as the buzzer the sounded. A see-saw second followed with the teams going score for score until freshman Jake Miller-Tolt found the net with 2:15 left in the half to break a 4-4 tie.
It was all Rams in the third quarter. Freshman Tristen Knoflick and Senior Day honoree Simmons netted early goals to make it 7-4. This set up Miller-Tolt, who added two more in the final three minutes, giving Fordham a 9-5 advantage. Mercyhurst would score the lone goal of the final frame to secure a 9-6 Fordham victory.
Miller-Tolt registered two assists and five steals to go with his three goals. Coach Harris talked about where the young freshman could be when he reaches his Senior Day three years from now.
“He brings a lot to the table. He has a great attitude and he’s got a work ethic,” he said. “That, combined with talent, leads to a higher performance. As long as he stays healthy I think he’s on track to do what R.J. did: be a leader in and out of the pool.”
But Simmons was not quite ready to be replaced, adding two steals and an assist to accompany his one netter. Knoflick put up two goals and an assist, with Varshisky and Shewchuck rounding out the scoring. Junior keeper Alex Jahns had nine stops in net.
In the nightcap, the Rams jumped all over Salem-International in 14-9 rout. It was almost over from the start with Fordham jumping out to a 6-0 advantage in the first of five extra man goals. “When you take a team out of the game early, it’s almost impossible to score that many goals late in the game,” said Harris. “Against Salem we executed very well in penalty situations.”
From there, the Rams poured on four more scores in the second to extend the lead to seven at 10-3. Salem-International made a late push, but the Rams were able to hold on to take it 14-9.
In his Messmore Aquatic Center swan song, Simmons led the way with four tallies along with two assists and a steal. His likely successor Miller-Tolt put up two goals, two assists and four steals. Knoflick and Shewchuck had two goals and three steals a piece. Sophomore Diego Delgado chipped in two goals of his own, three assists and a steal.
When it was all said and done, the Rams improved to 13-11 with the closing of their season on the horizon. And for Simmons, an extremely valued team leader, he went out a winner. “He was a captain, a leader and an extremely talented,” said Harris. “Whenever we needed a goal late in the game, R.J. was there. He led by example and worked really hard in practice. I don’t think he understood how important he really was to our team.”
Two regular season games remain until the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Championship. Next up are the Wagner Seahawks at 7:30 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 2, in Staten Island.
