How do I run Controller methods from a View webpage?

Hi,

VS2013, MVC5, VB

I want to execute some server side code after the user clicks on a button and before the Form Submit takes place.  The following is what I have in place that is working (from a post on this forum):

...stuff<form id="simForm" method='post' target="_blank" action='https://test.authorize.net/gateway/transact.dll'>

  ...other stuff...
  <input type='button' onclick="UserCommit()" value="Submit Payment" class="btn btn-warning" /></form><script type="text/javascript">
  function UserCommit() {$("#simForm").submit()
  }</script>

This works with or without the type="text/javascript" attribute; I'm not certain I understand why.  At any rate, when the button is clicked the function 'UserCommit' is executed and the script executes the Submit.  So that's all pretty cool.  I then tried to insert the following 'get' call, but it doesn't seem to be working:

<script type="text/javascript">
  function UserCommit() {$.get("@Url.Action("ActionsBeforeSubmit", "Products")")$("#simForm").submit()
  }</script>

So I have a few questions about how this will work:

Q1) It would seem the controller action I'm calling can't be an ActionResult but needs to be a regular sub/function because doesn't an ActionResult drive another web page?

Q2) Am I supposed to be using a different syntax other than the <script> tags?

If anyone can help with the proper method to use to execute code back on the server before the script executes the Submit that would be great.

Thanks.

Best Regards,

Alan