Box Score USAFA, Colo. – Bentley scored twice in the 3rd period to erase a 2-0 deficit, but Air Force scored the final two goals of the night to take a 4-2 victory over Bentley in the series opener at Cadet Ice Arena on Friday night.
Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Bentley took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to erase that deficit early in the 3rd period.
An Air Force penalty for holding called with 27 seconds left in the 2nd period carried over, and a penalty for tripping at 0:39 of the 3rd period gave Bentley a 5-on-3.
It took just 14 seconds for Bentley to score with the two man advantage, as sophomore Will Garin (Mound, Minn.) scored his 2nd goal of the season at 0:53, from Luke Santerno (Smithers, B.C.) and Jakov Novak (Windsor, Ontario), to make it a 2-1 game.
Air Force got a man back after the goal, but 20 seconds before the second penalty was to expire junior Michael Zuffante (Bloomingdale, Ill.) scored at 2:09 to tie the score 2-2. Seniors Ryner Gorowsky (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Brett Orr (Elkhorn, Manitoba) had the assists.
Four minutes later though, Air Force's Willie Reim scored what ended up being the deciding goal at 6:08 to give the hosts a 3-2 lead. Air Force added an empty net goal from Brady Tomlak with nine seconds remaining to seal the win.
Bentley's goalie Aidan Pelino (Oakville, Ontario) made 33 saves on the night, with 18 in the 2nd period alone. Air Force's Alex Schilling made 24 stops.
These two teams will be back at it Saturday night at 9:05 pm for the series finale.
