Brandon Avezov put on an offensive clinic with seven points and Christopher Lerner completed a hat trick to lead Columbia to a dominant 9-5 victory over Stony Brook at World Ice Arena on Friday night. The Lions’ explosive attack was too much for the struggling Seawolves, who entered the contest with just one win in eight games.
Avezov, who came into the game leading Columbia with 33 goals and 65 points in 12 contests, orchestrated the offensive barrage with one goal and six assists. His seven-point performance highlighted a balanced Columbia attack that saw nine different players register at least one point. Lerner, meanwhile, found the back of the net four times for his first hat trick of the season, adding to his impressive campaign that included 22 goals entering Friday’s matchup.
The Lions controlled the tempo throughout, with Jack O’Sullivan (1G, 1A) and Nicholas Sloan (1G) also lighting the lamp in the rout. Columbia’s depth was on full display as six different players recorded assists, including contributions from both Robinson brothers – Calidore and Ronan – along with Lucas Murray. Goalie Liam Hadcock faced 21 shots and made 16 saves to earn the victory.
Columbia improved to 8-6 on the season with the victory, building on their October 18 win over these same Seawolves by a 5-2 margin. The Lions’ high-powered offense, led by Avezov’s prolific scoring pace, continues to be a force in ECHC conference play as they look to climb the standings in the second half of the season.