ALBANY, N.Y.- A memorable 2025-26 season for the Bentley hockey team came to a close in the first round of NCAA Championship with a 5-1 defeat to the #1 overall seed Michigan.

"I love our guys, I thought we competed to the bitter end," said head coach Andy Jones. "I thought we were really good in the back half of the second period, but the scoreboard wasn't on our side. I just really enjoyed our group right until the end."

The Falcons were making their second straight appearance in the national tournament after winning their second consecutive Atlantic Hockey championship on Saturday. The final record stands at 23-12-5, tying the program single-season record for wins set last year.

Leading 1-0 late in the 1^st period, Michigan doubled its lead with just over one second remaining on a goal by Ben Robertson.

"After that goal the messaging was keep playing," said captain Stephen Castagna. "We needed to make some more plays, but the messaging was just stick with the game and keep moving our feet."

Bentley outshot the Wolverines 13-8 in the second period but were on the wrong end of goals by Nick Moldenhauer and Jason Muscutt to give Michigan a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.

The third period saw Michigan score a fifth goal at the 7:50 mark off the stick of Garrett Schifsky.

Falcons defenseman David Helledy notched his sixth goal of the season with 27 seconds left, assisted by Ryan Upson and Jack Dalton.

Upson drove in on net and dropped a pass off for Helledy, who ripped a shot from the edge of the left faceoff circle for the goal.

The final shots on goal tally was 29-25 in favor Michigan, who advance to the regional final on Sunday against either Penn State or Minnesota Duluth.