Freshman Matt Tyree scored his first collegiate goal with 27 seconds left to cap a late comeback and secure a 3-3 tie for Bentley against Army in Atlantic Hockey action Friday night.
For the second time in season’s first three games, the Falcons overcame a two-goal deficit in order to gain a share of the spoils. Trailing by two goals with just over five minutes to go, it did not seem like Bentley was going to get any points out of its Atlantic Hockey opener. Then a collision between freshman Matt Schwartz and Army goalie Brad Roberts resulted in an extended delay as Roberts was injured and had to leave the game.
Bentley would cut the lead in half with 5:07 to play with the help of Carmen Posteraro. A shot from just inside the blue line by freshman Jaye Judd was saved by Treye Kettwick, who replaced Roberts in goal, but Posteraro was on the doorstep to slot home the rebound.
Bentley continued to pressure the Black Knights down the stretch and after each team took minor penalties it was 4-on-4 for the final 40 seconds of the game. Tyree would get the dramatic tying goal in the middle of a scramble in front of the net and Bentley had battled all the way back to force an extra session.
The Falcons controlled the extra session, out shooting Army 7-0, but Kettwick came up big and allowed Army to hold on for the tie.
Bentley scored the opening goal 9:19 into the first period when Ryan Mayhew got the puck near the face-off circle and snapped a shot past Roberts and off the bottom of the crossbar for his second goal of the season.
Army would answer back before the end of the first period with a two-man advantage. Crisp passing by the Black Knights allowed Chris Migliaro to find Seth Beamer at the far post and Beamer jammed the puck past Simon St. Pierre to even the game at one apiece.
The Black Knights would score once in each of the next two periods to take a two-goal advantage. Chad Fifield would give Army the lead 7:04 into the second period. He had his initial shot from right in front of the net saved by St. Pierre, but he stuffed home the rebound.
The lead would be doubled Michael Picone 2:20 into the third period on the power play. A shot from inside the blueline was tipped by Chris Garceau and St. Pierre made a great save. Picone made an even better play on the rebound as he dove for the loose puck and knocked it by St. Pierre who was also trying to get to the loose puck.
St. Pierre would finish the night with 21 saves, including a great stop after Beamer came in on a breakaway early in the first period. Roberts finished the night with 29 saves, while Kettwick made 8 saves in just over nine and a half minutes of action.
