WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley dropped the first game of the final series of the regular season to Air Force on Friday night, 3-2. Alec Leonard and Kellan Hjartarson had the goals for Bentley.

Air Force got off to a fast start and had the first six shots of the game in the opening two minutes, all saved by Falcons goalie Nicholas Bevilacqua. At the 8:26 mark they converted their early pressure into a goal when Nolan Cunningham netted the first goal of the game for a 1-0 lead.

With eight seconds left in the period, they made it 2-0 on a power play goal by Will Dawson.

Bentley got the better of the second period, with the only goal and a 15-6 edge in shots. Leonard notched his fourth of the year off his own rebound 46 seconds into the period to make it a 2-1 game. Jake Black and Kellan Hjartarson had the assists.

Bentley kept the pressure on the rest of the period but still went into the locker rooms down one goal.

Air Force though took the momentum back with a goal early in the third period when Oliver Genest scored unassisted at the 1:09 mark to make it a 3-1 game.

The Falcons however continued to fight back and at the 13:23 mark Hjartarson scored a power play goal, his seventh of the season.

Black fed the puck down low to Stephen Castagna who had a shot saved by Air Force goalie Dominik Wasik, but Hjartarson fought through traffic and scored off the rebound in front of the net.

Bentley though wasn't able to find the tying goal in the remaining six-plus minutes and Air Force held on for the win.

The Falcons ended the game with a 36-27 advantage in shots.

These teams will meet again on Saturday at 6:00 pm in the final game of the regular season.