Ramaekers' OT goals complete comeback win over CMS

ORANGE, Calif. – Freshman Hunter Ramaekers hit back-to-back goals in the second overtime period to lift the Chapman University men's water polo team to a crucial 12-9 win over visiting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Ramaekers equaled his career-best with three goals in the match.

The Panthers (9-11, 5-2 SCIAC) and Stags (9-11, 4-3 SCIAC) met for the only time this year and came in tied for third with Redlands. CMS went up with the first goal two minutes in and led until late in the fourth quarter. Down 6-5 heading into the fourth, Chapman scored four times in the final quarter to take a late lead but CMS tied it up at 9-9 to send the match into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Ramaekers scored back-to-back goals for the Panthers to key the victory. He drove in his first goal from distance with 2:22 left. After a big stop on the defensive end, Raemakers scored again with 1:05 left to all but put the game out of reach. Senior Bennett Royce took advantage of a late one-on-one opportunity to ice the match with his third goal.

Ramaekers had just five goals this season entering the match with CMS but has scored seven of his now eight goals in the last three matches he's played in. Senior Jeff O'Brien also had three goals in the match while drawing six exclusions. Two of his three goals came in the clutch fourth quarter.

With 3:10 left, O'Brien took advantage of a 6-on-5 situation with a clutch goal to make it 8-7. He then tied the match up at 8-8 with another goal on the next trip down the pool. Chapman looked to make it a comeback victory in regulation when senior Nathaniel Fernandez floated in his second goal of the night for a 9-8 lead. Zack Rossman scored with 1:05 left to keep CMS alive. Rossman led the Stags with five goals.

Sophomore Wesley Hertel made 12 saves in goal for the Panthers and came away with three steals. He did not allow a goal in the six minutes of overtime.

Chapman heads to La Verne on Saturday to start the second half of the SCIAC season at 11 a.m. They return home on Oct. 25 for another crucial matchup with Redlands at 7 p.m.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#Chaptown