NEW HAVEN, Conn. – #18 ranked Bentley clinched a home game in the first round of the Northeast 10 Championship on Saturday with a 17-9 victory over Southern Connecticut.

In the final game of the regular season, the Falcons improved their records to 10-6 overall and 8-3 in NE10 games with the win.

Their opponent on Saturday is to be determined.

Maeve Johnson and Caitlin Keenan each had a game high five points. Johnson notched four goals and one assist and Keenan had three goals and two helpers.

Johnson is now up to 58 goals, 26 assists and 84 points on the season.

Caroline Affolter produced an all-around game with two goals, two assists and four draw controls.

Defensively Hailey Bardorf had two caused turnovers and goalie Ashlee Wargo turned away eight shots to earn the win in the cage.

Bentley started fast and led 6-0 after just under six minutes of game time, and 7-0 after less than eight minutes. Affolter and Courtney Dermody had each had two goals in the opening run and Johnson, Amanda Davis and Betsy Norko also scored.

The Falcons then used a 4-0 run midway through the second quarter to open up an 11-1 lead. Johnson set up Keenan for the first goal of the run, then scored three in a row herself in just 1:46 of game time.

Natalia Dutkewych added two goals in the second half as Bentley finished off the 17-9 victory.