CANISIUS 4, BENTLEY 1

Courtesy of Bentley Sports Information

AMHERST, N.Y. - A trio of goals in the second period helped lift Canisius to a 4-1 win over Bentley in Atlantic Hockey action on Saturday night at the Amherst Pepsi Center. Sophomore defenseman Carl Hudson (Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario) led the way for the Golden Griffins with a goal of his own and an assist on sophomore Ryan Klusendorf's (Peoria, Ill.) game-winning score in the second period.

Canisius remained unbeaten at home this season, improving to 5-10-5 overall and 4-6-4 in league play with the win, while the Falcons fell to 5-12-3 overall and 5-6-3 in AHA games.

The Griffs opened the scoring midway through the first period, when senior defenseman Kyle Bushee (Otsego, Mich.) ripped a shot from the right point that was deflected into the net by freshman Cory Conacher (Burlington, Ontario) for his first collegiate goal.

Klusendorf scored the eventual game-winner early in the second with his first collegiate goal on a shot he ripped from long range to make it a 2-0 game early in the middle frame. Canisius built a 4-0 lead with a pair of goals about two minutes apart in the middle of the second period. Hudson drilled a slap shot from the top of the circle for the Griffs' third tally of the evening nine minutes into the period. Canisius then capitalized on a power-play opportunity to stretch the lead to 4-0 when senior David Kasch collected a loose puck in front of the net and scored his seventh of the season.

Bentley got on the board late in the second when Canisius sophomore goalie Andrew Loewen (Winnipeg, Manitoba) lost his stick behind the net. Sophomore Marc Menzione (Darien, Ill./Mahoning Valley Phantoms) had the puck and dished to freshman Dustin Cloutier (Berkley, Mich./Mahoning Valley Phantoms). Cloutier passed again to classmate Erik Peterson (Shorewood, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede) on the right side and Peterson took the shot, scoring the fifth goal of his rookie campaign.

The Falcons had a 37-29 advantage in shots on goal, but most efforts were stymied by Loewen, who made 36 saves to earn the win for the Griffs. Freshman Joe Calvi (New Lenox, Ill./New England Jr. Huskies) stopped 25 shots at the other end for Bentley.