WATERTOWN, Mass. – A back-and-forth game between Bentley and Mercyhurst ended in a 4-4 tie Friday night in the series opener between the Atlantic Hockey rivals at Ryan Arena. Four different players scored for the Falcons.

A power play goal by captain Alex Grieve (Calgary, Alberta/Westside) at 3:03 of the third period gave Bentley a 4-3 lead after they had trailed 3-2. It was the eighth straight game the team has scored a power play goal. They were able to keep that lead for a little over seven minutes until Mercyhurst's Chris Bodo scored the tying goal at 10:19.

Neither team found the winning goal over the final nine minutes of regulation or the five minute overtime, though Bentley did outshoot the Lakers 5-0 in the extra session.

Bentley led 1-0 after the first period on junior Andrew Gladiuk's (White Rock, B.C./Nanaimo) sixth goal of the season at 5:35. After having his initial shot saved by goalie Jimmy Sarjeant, Gladiuk kept at it and banged in the rebound. But in the second period, Mercyhurst took advantage of an early five minute major penalty called against the Falcons and scored twice in a span of 33 seconds to take a 2-1 lead.

The teams then traded goals. Bentley defenseman Matt Blomquist (Blaine, Minn./Coulee Region) made it 2-2 at 9:53 after taking a cross-ice pass to the far post from defenseman Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles, Calif./Vernon). But less than three minutes later, Mercyhurst took the lead right back on a goal by freshman Jack Riley at 12:41.

Senior Brett Switzer (Calgary, Alberta/Spruce Grove) tied it right back up though for Bentley at 16:25. Taking a pass from freshman Andrew McDonald (New Brighton, Minn./Fargo) on the point, Switzer ripped a shot over the glove of Lakers goalie Spencer Bacon for the goal.

Four different players had four points on the night for the Falcons; Gladiuk, Grieve and Switzer each had one goal and one assist and Weinstein had two assists.

The tie moves Bentley's Atlantic Hockey record to 2-2-1, while the Lakers go to 3-1-1. These two teams are back at it in the series finale tomorrow night at 7:05 pm.