Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Nik Armstrong-Kingkade scored 2:11 into overtime to give the Falcons a 4-3 victory over Union College at Bentley Arena on Saturday night in the first game of the second half of the season.
With the teams skating 3-on-3 in overtime, A.J. Hodges made a steal in the defensive zone and broke into the offensive zone down the left wing. From behind the faceoff circle and along the boards he centered a pass to Armstrong-Kingkade in front, who redirected Hodges' pass over the glove of Union goalie Kyle Chauvette for the win.
Bentley began overtime on the penalty kill after a penalty with 1:39 left in regulation. It was a successful kill with Union only registering one shot on goal, which was saved by Nicholas Grabko, one of his 26 on the night. Union began OT with a 4-on-3 advantage, but after the penalty expired 21 seconds in the teams went to 3-on-3.
Just prior to Armstrong-Kingkade's goal, Grabko denied Union's Nate Henley on a breakaway and then denied Brandon Buhr on the rebound to keep the game going.
The Falcons led this game 3-0 with all of the goals scored by captain Ethan Leyh for a hat trick.
Leyh scored the first two goals just over two minutes apart in the first period to give Bentley a 2-0 lead. His first goal at 7:18 came after Stephen Castagna fed a pass to Leyh in front that he maneuvered around Chauvette for the goal.
Leyh's second goal was assisted by defenseman Nick Bochen at the 9:23 mark. Bochen gained possession in the neutral zone after an errant Union pass and skated into the offensive zone. He spotted Leyh to his left and fed a quick pass at the edge of the left faceoff circle. Leyh then beat Chauvette to his stick side for the goal.
The senior captain then completed the hat trick at 9:00 of the 2nd period. Leyh had an initial shot saved by Chauvette but Kellan Hjartarson kept the play alive and passed to Castagna along the goal line, who centered a pass to Leyh on the far post for a one-timer goal.
The Falcons took that 3-0 lead into the 3rd period as Grabko made 11 saves through 40 minutes. But Union began to battle back with goals by Chaz Smedsrud and Josh Nixon in the opening 3:13. They then got the tying goal from Ben Tuptker at the 13:53 mark.
Bentley stayed alive with the penalty kill to close out regulation and into overtime to lead into Armstrong-Kingkade's goal.
Now 9-10 on the season, Bentley returns to Atlantic Hockey action on Tuesday when they visit Army West Point.
