SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – AIC junior center Jake Stella scored a hat trick to lead the Yellow Jackets past Bentley 5-0 on Thursday night at the Mass Mutual Center in the series opening game between the two teams.

Stella scored twice in the 1^st period to help AIC jump out to a 3-0 lead. After a scoreless 11-plus minutes of the period, AIC scored three times in just under four minutes. Stella's two goals bookended the run, and senior center Elijiah Barriga scored in between.

The Yellow Jackets received a goal in the 2^nd period at the 7:45 mark from senior left wing Chris Van Os-Shaw. Stella completed his hat trick with a power play goal at 6:29 of the 3^rd period.

Shots for the night finished 36-33 for AIC. Collin Rutherford (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Michael Zuffante (Bloomingdale, Ill.) led the Falcons with four shots each.

The Falcons saw their Atlantic Hockey record drop to 3-4 and 5-7 overall. AIC improved to 3-7-1 overall and 3-2 in AHA games.

The teams will be back at it on Friday at 1:05 pm at the Mass Mutual Center as Bentley will look for a split of the series.