MILFORD, Conn. – The Bentley Falcons scored three goals in the second period to skate past the Sacred Heart men's hockey team 4-1 at Milford Ice Pavilion Friday night.

Bentley (1-1-0, 1-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) had the first shot of the game, as Matt Blomquist put a shot on goal seconds after the opening faceoff with Alex Vazzano (Trumbull, Conn.) making a save. The Pioneers had their first shot on goal come with 17:54 to play in the first period as Spencer Graboski (Quesnel, B.C.) fired the puck right at Bentley goalie Gabe Antoni. Jordan Minello (Sweaburg, Ont.) finished off a Pioneers rush with 15:38 left in the first with a shot off the crossbar.

Sacred Heart (1-2-0, 1-2-0 AHA) got on the scoreboard with 14:47 to play in the opening frame. Evan Jasper (Whitby, Ont.) knocked home the rebound of a Nick Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y.) shot to put the Pioneers ahead 1-0.Defenseman Josh Phillips (Toronto, Ont.) also had an assist on the goal. Sacred Heart had a chance to go up 2-0 with 6:39 to play in the period, going on the power play when Max French was called for interference. The Pioneers only put one shot on goal with the extra man as Bentley killed the penalty. The Falcons outshot Sacred Heart 10-8 in the period, but trailed 1-0 at intermission.

Bentley controlled the puck for much of the second period, tying the game at 12:48 of the period. Andrew Gladiuk redirected a French shot past Vazzano to level the game at 1-1. Less than two minutes later, the Falcons took the lead as Michael Reardon found Charlie Donners on a 2-on-1 rush to make the score 2-1 at 14:45. Bentley added one more goal in the second period from Alex Kubiak at 18:03, taking a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

Sacred Heart went on the power play three times in the third period, but didn't score. The Pioneers also killed four penalties in the final period, but Bentley added a Brett Switzer goal late in the third to make the final score 4-1.

The Falcons outshot the Pioneers 29-21 in the game. Each team was 0-for-5 on the power play, making Sacred Heart a perfect 14-for-14 on the penalty kill to open the season. Vazzano made 25 saves, with Antoni making 20 for Bentley.

The two teams meet again Saturday night at John A. Ryan Skating Arena at 7:05 p.m.