Erie, Pa. – Behind three goals in the span of 67 seconds, Bentley was able to build an early lead and cruise to a 5-2 victory over the Mercyhurst College men's hockey team Friday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the loss, the Lakers fall to 1-8-0 on the season and 1-2 in Atlantic Hockey action while the Falcons improve to 3-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in league play.

The Falcons broke open the game late in the first period with three consecutive strikes, two of which came on breakaway opportunities. Dain Prewitt started the frenzy when he split the defense and beat senior Matt Lundin top shelf at 15:55. Jeff Gumaer added to the score with a fast-break strike just 20 seconds later, while Pat Percella knocked home a puck at 17:02. 

Lundin finished the frame with seven saves made before being replaced by sophomore Ryan Zapolski in the second. Zapolski closed out the game with 19 saves and one goal allowed.

Gumaer stretched the lead to 4-0 with a shorthanded score at the 2:09 mark of the second period.

Mercyhurst accounted for the game's next two tallies, with sophomore Ryan Raven putting a puck past Bentley's Joe Calvi at 11:09, followed by senior Ryan Toomey who brought the team within two thanks to a power-play marker late in the third period.

Bentley closed out the game when Marc Menzione added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left to play.

Mercyhurst finished the game with a 33-31 edge in shots. Both teams were held to just one conversion on the power-play. The Lakers were 1-of-5 while the Falcons finished 1-of-7.

Mercyhurst and Bentley meet again on Saturday, Nov. 15 for a 7:05 p.m. contest at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.