WALTHAM, Mass. – Canisius overcame an early deficit to take a 5-1 victory over Bentley on Friday night in the series opener between the two teams.

Freshman Arlo Merritt (Halifax, Nova Scotia) gave the Falcons an early 1-0 lead with a goal just 1:41 into the game.

As Bentley broke down the ice, freshman Nicholas Niemo (Middlebury, Vt.) fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that rang off the left post. The puck then ricocheted to the stick of Merritt, who one-timed the rebound into the back of the net. The goal was his second in as many games.

Defenseman Nick Bochen (North Vancouver, B.C.) also had an assist, his 10^th of the season.

Canisius though took a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals on the backend of the period. J.D. Pogue tied it at the 13:11 mark, and a little over four minutes later defenseman Lincoln Erne found the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

The game stayed that way until just before the halfway point of the second period. Left wing Alton McDermott extended the lead for the Griffs with his 4^th goal of the season with a shot from inside the left faceoff circle.

Canisius then added two goals in the 3^rd period. A power play goal by Ryan Miotto at 5:48 and an empty net goal by Daniel DiGrande at 17:46.

Griffs goalie Jacob Barczewski made 23 saves to earn the win. Falcons goalie Nicholas Grabko made 22 stops.

Bentley will look for the series split when these teams meet on Saturday at 4:05 pm.