MILFORD, Conn. – Sacred Heart scored two first period goals on its way to a 3-1 victory over the Bentley University hockey team in the Atlantic Hockey opener for both squads Wednesday night. Freshman Max French (West Kelowna, B.C./West Kelowna Warriors) had the goal for Bentley.

The Pioneers, which upset then-No. 1 UMass-Lowell last Friday night, received goals from three different players and went 2-3 on the power play. Bentley outshot Sacred Heart 38-19, but could not solve Pioneers sophomore goalie Alex Vazzano for the most part, who made 37 saves.

Sacred Heart opened the scoring at 7:39 of the first period on a goal by junior Drew George, giving him all three of the team's goals scored to that point of the season. A little under five minutes later, freshman Mitch Nylen struck on the power play to give Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead.

French got one back for the Falcons at 14:32 of the first, making a nifty move around Vazzano and scoring with his backhand. That was his third goal of the season. Sophomore Derek Bacon (Calgary, Alberta/Okotoks Oilers) and freshman Will Suter (Omaha, Neb./Lincoln Stars) had the assists.

But that would be Bentley's last goal of the night. Senior defenseman Will Rayner scored on the power play at 12:54 of the second period to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.

Bentley drops to 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in Atlantic Hockey, while Sacred Heart improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Atlantic Hockey. The Falcons are back on the ice Saturday night when they travel up to Orono to take on Maine.