Auburn, ME – CMCC Men's Ice Hockey dropped game two of its weekend matchup against the Colorado School of Mines, 4-2 on Sunday night. Defensemen Braeden Gagnon and Heath McLean scored for the Mustangs, but the visitors struck twice in the third period to earn a split of the series and end Central Maine's 13-game home winning streak.
The Mustangs are now 2-3-0 all-time against the Orediggers after defeating them Saturday and in their final game of the 2024-25 season at the ACHA national championships. CSM also journeyed to Auburn, ME last year for a two-game set, sweeping CMCC in their first two games against each other.
Ben Lombardi opened the scoring for the Colorado School of Mines in the first period after his twin brother found the back of the net in game one. Central Maine turned the puck over on a breakout early in the contest. Josh Fisher intercepted the puck and quickly found a turning Jordan Larese who beat his man to trigger a two-on-oh. Larese passed to Lombardi, whose initial shot was stopped by Cam Wickens, but a second try banged in the rebound to make it 1-0 after 3:48 played.
CMCC rallied to take the lead in the second period. Gagnon picked off a pass in the neutral zone and played a give-and-go with Aaron Higgins in the slot before deking around netminder Dylan Eldridge. The Lewiston, ME native's simple backhand finish tied things up 3:38 into the period and was his third straight game with a goal. Meanwhile, Higgins' assist gave the Mustangs alternate captain his ninth point in five games against Colorado School of Mines.
McLean made it 2-1 less than two minutes later. Michael Belleau held off two Orediggers along the boards before dealing a pass back to the point. McLean teed up a quick wrister that sailed through traffic and into the back of the net for his second of the year.
CSM evened it up before the second intermission after getting three chances on net in quick succession. Wickens stopped Brady Sorrentino's shot from the right circle and denied Lombardi on the rebound. But the third try was the charm, as Nick Malaniuk knocked a backhand shot inside the far post with 6:28 remaining.
The third period saw plenty of penalties, with a combined 21 minutes spent in the box. Lombardi scored his second of the day on a 4-on-3 power play at the 4:03 mark. Sorrentino recovered a clearance at center ice and weaved his way across the zone before setting up a wide-open Lombardi at the top of the crease for a one-timer.
Defenseman Scott MacDonald added an insurance marker with 9:44 remaining. Lombardi once again played a part, picking up an assist to give him two goals and two helpers in the game. Nathan Cote wrapped around behind the net before finding MacDonald pinching in below the left dot. The alternate captain's shot deflected off a CMCC player and past Wickens for a 4-2 lead.
The parade to the penalty box kept the Mustangs from gaining any momentum to attempt a comeback. When the horn sounded, CMCC had lost on home ice for the first time in over a calendar year, since their defeat by the Orediggers on October 14, 2024.
Central Maine looks to bounce back on Friday as they continue their ten-game homestand. The Mustangs host the Colby College Mules on October 24th for their first game of NECHA Colonial North division play.
