WEST POINT, N.Y. – Bentley scored six times to defeat Army West Point 6-3 on Friday in its first Atlantic Hockey game of the season.

The Falcons didn't score in the first period but erupted for three goals in both the second and third frames.

It got started 46 seconds into the second period when freshman Oskar Bakkevig scored his first NCAA goal with a wrist shot from just above the right faceoff dot to tie the game 1-1.

A.J. Hodges then gave Bentley a 2-1 lead at the 7:10 mark when he scored off the rebound from a shot by Arlo Merritt that was initially saved.

Defenseman Sam Duerr made it 3-1 just over four minutes later when he threaded a shot from inside the blue line through traffic in front of the net.

Bentley notched another early goal to start the third period when Nik Armstrong-Kingkade lit the lamp 44 seconds into the period. His second goal of the season was assisted by Ethan Leyh and Stephen Castagna for a 4-1 lead.

Army though didn't go quietly, as two straight goals by Michael Sacco and followed by Barron Woodring at 9:25 cut into Bentley's lead at 4-3.

A too many men on the ice penalty on the Black Knights set Bentley up with a power play at 14:20, and 40 seconds later Leyh came up with a huge goal to make it a two-goal game again. Leyh took a pass from Garrett Horsager at the top of the right faceoff circle and pinpointed his shot over Evan Szary's glove for the goal.

2:41 later Leyh scored an empty net goal to put the game away at 6-3.

These teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 4:00 pm.