Mount Vernon, New York - Columbia University used five unanswered goals, including four in the third period, to break open a back-and-forth ACHA contest en route to an 8-3 win at The Ice Hutch on Friday evening.  Zac Brown scored twice in defeat, with Cam Bourassa adding his second goal of the year as the Mustangs traded blows with the Ivy League club in an exciting opening frame that ended at 3-3. Sean Coleman and Austin Taylor each added two assists in defeat, with Dylan Demers registering a first period assist as well.

 The Mustangs would tighten up defensively in the second period, tilting the ice and pounding Columbia goalkeeper Justin Paik's net with shot after shot. Sam Alexander was denied on a breakaway to highlight several of Paik's sterling saves, as he turned aside 20 shots in the second period alone. The Lions would be the only team to tally in the middle period, however, as they broke through just over halfway through the second on a goalmouth scramble that saw the puck sneak by Mustangs goalkeeper Ben Feldman.

 Despite the one goal deficit the Mustangs fell flat at the start of the third as the Lions scored early and often to extend their lead to 7-3. Central Maine had an extended 5-on-3 power play with just under 7 minutes remaining when they pulled goalkeeper Jacob Strout, who had replaced Feldman after he was removed for precautionary reasons after a scary netfront collision. But the Mustangs power play would not convert despite several good opportunities, with the Lions eventually adding one more en route to an 8-3 win.

 The high octane Columbia club improved to 13-4-1 in ACHA play while Central Maine while averaging just under 10 goals per game in the process. Central Maine dropped to 5-10-1 in ACHA play and will round out their schedule on Saturday, February 8th when they visit St. Thomas Aquinas for the first time in program history. Puck drop is at 8:10 p.m. at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rink in Monsey, New York.