Luke Santerno
Luke Santerno

Air Force Takes Series Opener over Bentley, 4-2

USAFA, Colo. – Air Force's Evan Feno scored twice to help the hosts to a 4-2 victory over Bentley University on Friday night at Cadet Ice Arena.

With 51 seconds remaining in the 3rd period and Bentley trailing 3-2, the Falcons brought an extra-attacker out on the ice in search of the tying goal. A face-off win by Luke Santerno (Smithers, B.C.) and offensive zone possession resulted in shots by defensemen Tanner Jago (Brandon, Manitoba) and Connor Brassard (Fitchburg, Mass.), but both were blocked.

After Brassard's shot, Feno dug the puck out of the corner and flung it all the way down the other end of the ice that went into the open net to seal it for Air Force at 4-2.

Air Force led 2-0 after the first period on goals by Feno and Evan Giesler, but Bentley scored twice to get to within one goal on two occasions.

Santerno scored at 3:54 of the 2nd period, his second goal of the year. He won a face-off in the offensive zone and played the puck back to Jago. Jago found him open in front of the net back door and Santerno tapped it in to make it a 2-1 game.

Air Force though responded a little under three minutes later with a breakaway goal by Walker Sommer, set up by a long breakout pass by Jake Levin.

Bentley though got back to within one goal again at 3-2, as senior Drew Callin (Middleton, Wisc.) scored on the power play at the 10:38 mark, with Jakov Novak (Windsor, Ontario) and Santerno on the assists. It was Callin's third straight game with a goal, and 4th of the season overall.

Air Force picked up its 4th win in a row to improve to 5-2 in Atlantic Hockey games, while Bentley dropped 2-3-1 in the AHA. Tomorrow night's game gets underway at 9:35 eastern as the Falcons will look to gain a split of the series.