USAFA, Colo. – Graduate student defenseman Matt Lombardozzi (Leominster, Mass.) scored a second period power play goal and sophomore goaltender Nicholas Grabko (Channahon, Ill.) made 31 saves, but Bentley dropped a 2-1 decision to Air Force tonight at Cadet Ice Arena.

After a scoreless first period where the shots were even at 11 each, all the goals were scored in the second period.

Bentley had the first chance at a goal in the second period with a penalty shot 2:53 into the period, but Air Force goalie Alex Schilling came up with the save.

The period stayed scoreless until Air Force's Will Gavin scored at the 5:34 mark. Air Force then made it 2-0 just over two minutes later on a goal by defenseman Sam Brennan. Air Force's Andrew DeCarlo won an offensive zone face-off and played the puck back to Brennan on the blue line. Brennan's shot took a deflection in front of the net and went in.

Before the period was over though, Bentley pulled closer on Lombardozzi's power play goal with 2:38 remaining. Matt Gosiewski (Wilton, Conn.) had an initial shot on goal that was saved by Schilling but Bentley kept the puck in the zone and it found its way to Brendan Hamblet (Hopkinton, Mass.) in the slot. Hamblet played a short pass to Gosiewski, who slid a pass across the ice to Lombardozzi at the top of the left face-off circle. Lombardozzi then unleashed a shot that beat Schilling over his shoulder for the goal.

The goal was Lombardozzi's third straight game with a goal.

Neither team however scored in the 3^rd period and Air Force hung on for the 2-1 win in the series opener.

Bentley will look to earn a series split when they teams take the ice for Saturday's series finale at 7:05 pm.