LEWISTON, N.Y. – Bentley scored five goals in the third period but its rally came up just short as the Falcons dropped the series opener at Niagara on Friday night 6-5.

The Falcons trailed 3-0 after the second period and still trailed by that score after seven minutes had elapsed of the 3^rd period.

Grad student forward Collin Rutherford (Tonawanda, N.Y.) scored his 4^th of the season at the 7:16 mark after he scored off the rebound after Cole Kodsi (Boca Raton, Fla.) made a strong move to the net.

Niagara went back up by three goals just over a minute later on a goal by Lars Rodne to take a 4-1 lead.

After a little more than two minutes elapsed Bentley scored twice just 36 seconds apart to cut the deficit to 4-3. Grad student defenseman Matt Lombardozzi (Leominster, Mass.) scored his 8^th of the year at the 11:14 mark to make it a 4-2 game.

Just 36 seconds later Brendan Hamblet's (Hopkinton, Mass.) first goal of the season made it 4-3. Rutherford put a shot on goal from the slot that Niagara goalie Chad Veltri saved, but Hamblet was there to score off the rebound.

The 4-3 score didn't last long however, as Niagara scored a short-handed goal just 28 seconds later to go up 5-3.

After Niagara's Shane Ott scored an empty net goal with 2:54 remaining to give them a 6-3 lead, Bentley continued to battle to the end.

They scored two extra attacker goals to get within one. Rutherford scored his second of the night with 1:32 remaining and freshman Danny Pearson (Vancouver, B.C.) scored off a backhand shot with 54 seconds left.

Niagara however was able to hang on to secure the 6-5 win.

The Falcons drop to 10-8-1 in Atlantic Hockey while Niagara improved to 8-9-2 in Atlantic Hockey. The Falcons will look for the series split tomorrow at 5:05 PM.