MANCHESTER, N.H. – A historic season for the Bentley hockey team that saw the Falcons win the first Atlantic Hockey championship in program history came to a close with a hard fought 3-1 defeat to #1 overall seed Boston College in the NCAA Regional on Friday.

As they did all season, the Falcons battled tooth and nail for 60 minutes and made life difficult for their opponent. But BC ultimately advanced to the regional final with a late goal by James Hagens with 1:18 left to break a 1-1 tie.

"My heart could not be filled with more pride for our hockey team. We left every single thing we had on the ice," said head coach Andy Jones. "I always tell our guys when I'm proud. I don't know if I've ever been more proud of them than I am tonight."

After a slow start that saw BC take a 1-0 lead at 16:45 of the 1^st period on a goal by Gabe Perreault, the Falcons grew into the game.

Falcons goalie Connor Hasley helped keep it to a 1-0 contest with 15 saves in the opening 20 minutes.

After the first intermission Bentley started to establish itself and scored the tying goal off the stick of captain Ethan Leyh at 3:21 of the second period.

On the power play after a tripping penalty on the Eagles, Leyh tied it with his 17^th goal of the season and 42^nd point.

The puck was worked down low and Stephen Castagna had it as he drove net front. He slid a pass across the crease to Leyh who fired a shot over the glove of Jacob Fowler to tie it 1-1.

Hasley had 12 saves in the second period.

The third period saw Bentley's penalty kill come up with two clutch kills, including a 5-on-3 for 18 seconds.

The go-ahead goal came after a shot from the point by Aram Minneitan went wide of the net. Hagens was first to the rebound and scored on a wrap-around to give BC the lead with 1:17 remaining.

Ryan Leonard added an empty net goal with 32 seconds.

Hasley finished the game 41 saves, his second game this season with 40-plus saves. He ends the year with 21 wins (a new program record) and 11 shutouts, tied for the second most in NCAA history.

The Falcons went 23-15-2 which broke the school record for wins.