USAFA, Colo. – Jake Black and Michael Mesic each had three points as Bentley defeated Air Force 5-1 in the series opener late on Friday night in Colorado.

Five different players scored the five goals for the Falcons, the second straight game with a balanced attack after eight different players scored in an 8-3 win at Holy Cross last Saturday.

Stephen Castagna, Garrett Horsager and Chase Davis were the other goal scorers for the Falcons, who improved to 10-1-2 in Atlantic Hockey and 11-6-2 overall.

Bentley jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:32 mark of the 1^st period when defenseman Horsager scored his second goal in as many games. The junior defenseman from Rosemount, Minnesota scored with a backhander after a wraparound.

Just over three minutes later, Mesic's fifth goal of the season made it 2-0. With the puck deep in Air Force's zone, Black set the goal up with a backhand pass to Mesic who was open on the far post.

In the second period Davis made it 3-0 with his fourth goal of the year at the 7:14 mark. Arlo Merritt had an initial shot on goal that was saved and Davis had a first attempt off the rebound saved but he scored on his second shot.

In the third period, Castagna and Black scored power play goals to put the game away at 5-1.

Lukas Swedin made a career-high 38 saves to earn his seventh win of the season.

These teams will play in the second game of the series on Saturday at 7:00 pm.