HAMDEN, Conn. – Sophomore Sam Anas scored two goals to help lift No. 15 Quinnipiac to a 5-3 win over the Bentley hockey team Saturday night, in the season opener for both teams. Sophomore Max French (West Kelowna, B.C./West Kelowna Warriors) had two goals and one assist for the Falcons.

Bentley stayed in it until the end, and Quinnipiac did not seal it until an empty-net goal by Anas with 26 seconds left to provide the final score.

French had brought Bentley to within 4-3 with 3:40 remaining with his second goal of the night. The Falcons enjoyed a 5-on-3 opportunity after two Quinnipiac penalties just 29 seconds apart. Bentley took advantage with French scoring on a wrist shot after taking a pass from defenseman Matt Maher (Avon, Conn./Westside Warriors).

The first period ended with Quinnipiac leading 2-1. Freshman Bo Pieper got the Bobcats off to a good start, but French tied the score for Bentley with 6:55 left in the period. French took a pass from defenseman Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles, Calif./Vernon Vipers) in the corner and dug it out. He then proceeded to drive in on net and beat Bobcats goalie Michael Garteig for the goal. Quinnipiac though took a 2-1 lead on a tally by forward Travis St. Denis with 47 seconds left.

Into the second period, Bentley found the tying goal from Andrew Gladiuk (White Rock, B.C./Nanaimo Clippers), shorthanded, at the 8:13 mark. French made a steal in the neutral zone leading to a two-on-one with he and Gladiuk. French fed Gladiuk, allowing him to go top shelf and beat Garteig to tie the game.

Shortly after, Weinstein appeared to have scored to give Bentley the lead, only for it to be overturned after a review. The review also gave Bentley a penalty, and 31 seconds into the ensuing power play senior Matthew Peca scored to give Quinnipiac a 3-2 lead.

Anas made it 4-2 with a power play goal 37 seconds into the third period. That was the last goal scored until French's goal with the two-man advantage.

Junior goalie Gabe Antoni (Lansdale, Pa./Springfield Jr. Blues) made the start for the Falcons and made 32 saves. The next game for Bentley is its Atlantic Hockey opener, Friday night at Sacred Heart.