WALTHAM, Mass. – A.J. Hodges scored a natural hat trick in the third period as Bentley won Game 1 of the Atlantic Hockey semifinals over Sacred Heart, 5-2.

The Falcons trailed 2-0 just past the midway point of the second period but scored five unanswered goals to rally for the win.

Hodges scored his first goal at 8:51 of the third period to break the 2-2 tie. A shot from Oliver Salo along the far boards came in and Hodges was positioned in front of the net to get a tip-in goal.

Just 1:49 later Hodges scored again to give Bentley a 4-2 lead. Hodges entered the offensive zone with speed down the left wing and beat SHU goalie Ajeet Gundarah with a wrap-around for the goal.

Bentley maintained its two goal lead as the game dug deeper into the third period. SHU pulled Gundarah for an extra-attacker and Hodges finished the natural hat trick with an empty-netter with 13 seconds left.

Stephen Castagna won a race to the puck to beat an icing call and fed Hodges who was trailing the play and swept the puck in for the goal.

Bentley's rally began with two power play goals on a five-minute major in the second period.

Oskar Bakkevig scored on a one-timer off a feed by Castagna at 14:18 of the second period. Then just 1:26 later Nik Armstrong-Kingkade lit the lamp on a tip-in from a shot by Hodges to tie the game 2-2.

Connor Hasley made 20 saves to earn the win, his 19^th of the season.

Bentley will look to win the series and book its place in the AHA finals in Game 2 on Saturday. Puck drop is 5:00 PM.