Simms Lifts Hawks to Victory Over Fordham with First Half Goal

Box Score BRONX, N.Y. – A late first half goal off the boot of rookie striker Javoni Simms coupled with a solid defensive effort in the second stanza led the University of Hartford men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory at the home field of the Fordham Rams on Friday evening. The triumph capped a three-game, season-opening road stretch for Hartford (1-2-0), which kicks-off the home portion of its 2012 campaign on Monday evening with a Labor Day derby against the neighboring Central Connecticut State Blue Devils under the lights of Al-Marzook Field (7:00 p.m.).

The Rams, who drop to 1-2-0 on the season, tested rookie keeper Viltsu Tuumi and the Hawks' backline early and often in the first stanza. Six shots were blasted through Hartford's zone, including one that nicked the crossbar, forcing Tuumi to make two of his three saves during that stretch to prevent the home team from reaching the scoreboard first.

The difference maker in the match came with less than two minutes remaining before the halftime intermission. After receiving a pass from sophomore Omar Tall, Simms converted on the Hawks' sixth shot of the evening to put the visiting squad ahead, 1-0, in the 44th minute. From just 12-yards out, Simms corralled the feed from Tall and blasted a shot through the Rams' defense, reaching the upper left corner of the net for his second tally of the season.

Hartford turned up the pressure out of the locker rooms and dominated play in the second half, holding a commanding 5-2 advantage in shots while limiting the Rams chances to find their offensive groove. Fordham's opportunities to put the equalizer on the scoreboard were few and far between as the squad mustered up just two shots in the second period as a result of Hartford's swarming defense.

Playing with the advantage, the Hawks came close to netting an insurance goal on more than one occasion. Hartford's best non-scoring opportunity came in the 68th minute when midfielder James Stamopoulos sent a lateral pass from the near side to a streaking Anthony Santaga. From just outside the box, Santaga, a junior striker, unloaded a shot but his attempt sailed just wide, right of the goal post.

Ten minutes later, Kevin Lewis booted a long shot from more than 25 yards away from the goal. The senior midfielder put too much power on the ball however as it missed its mark high, sailing 12 inches over the crossbar.

Hartford held the lead in the shots category, 11-8, and also edged the Rams in corner kicks by a 4-2 margin. Fordham keeper Sean Brailey made a pair of saves on the evening while Tuumi, with the assistance of the Hawks' back line, earned both his first career victory and shutout between the posts.

David Bernhardsson and Santaga each attempted a game-high three shots for the Hawks while Kalle Sotka, Kyle Bitterman and Taylor Gulbins combined for six of Fordham's eight attempts.

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