US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Sophomore goalie Branden Komm (Williamsville, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) made 40 saves as Bentley and Air Force battled to a 2-2 tie Friday night in the series opener at Cadet Ice Arena.

A second period goal by sophomore Brett Gensler (St. Charles, Mo./Youngstown Phantoms) had given Bentley a 2-1 lead in the early parts of the second period. But Air Force's Kyle DeLaurell cancelled that out with a power play goal at 5:40 of the third period.

Komm helped keep the score tied with several great saves after DeLaurell's goal as Air Force continued to mount pressure and they outshot Bentley 15-7 during the third period.

Bentley had a power play early in overtime after DeLaurell was called for tripping 55 seconds in, but nothing came of it. They then had to spend the final 1:41 of overtime on the penalty kill but prevented Air Force from scoring to preserve the tie.

Air Force scored the game's first goal at 11:40 of the first period from junior John Kruse on the right face-off circle. Kruse took an outlet pass from sophomore Adam McKenzie, skated down the right wing and fired a wrist shot as a teammate screened Komm.

But just 21 seconds later, freshman Alex Grieve (Calgary, Alberta/Westside Warriors) tied the game for Bentley with his fifth of the season. Grieve wheeled around the net took a shot in the slot that hit DeLaurell's skate in front of the net and trickled in past goalie Stephen Caple.

Gensler's goal at 6:11 of the second period came after he picked off an Air Force clearing pass in their own zone and skated in uncontested to score his sixth of the year. He also assisted on Grieve's goal for a two point night and to extend his scoring streak to six games.

The second game of the series is Saturday night at 9:05 p.m.