Men's Hockey Downed By Bentley, 4-1

Friday, January 23

Waltham, Mass.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

11-8-0

Bentley

13-7-3

Princeton

Bentley

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

January 23, 2026 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

A two-goal spurt from Bentley early in the third period broke a 1-1 deadlock as the Falcons defeated Princeton, 4-1, at Bentley Arena.

The Falcons opened the scoring 6:31 into the game via an Arlo Merritt power play goal. Bentley needed just six seconds of man advantage time to find the back of the net as a scramble off the faceoff found Merritt wide open alone in front for a backhander that slipped through Smith.

Princeton knocked on the door throughout the second period, finally tying the game with 2:08 left in the middle stanza when Jake Manfre slid home a power play goal. The Tigers were on a 4-on-3 man advantage when Nick Marciano regrouped in the neutral zone to send David Ma and Manfre in on a 2-on-1 that saw Ma sauce a pass perfectly to Manfre who patiently worked around the Falcon netminder to tuck home his 10th of the season.

Oh "Ma" God!

Manfre from Ma and Marcianio!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/qLhTxo25CP
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) January 24, 2026

Two Bentley goals in a span of 0:44 gave the Falcons a 3-1 lead early in the third period.

Michael Mesic gave Bentley the lead with a power-play goal 1:31 into the period. With Kai Daniells off for hooking and the Tigers having one of their penalty killers playing without a stick, a centering pass found Mesic open at the far post to one-time in a PPG.

Under a minute later, the Falcons again took advantage of a Tiger bad bounce when Brendan Gorman had his stick snap on a one-timer attempt that led to Bentley moving the other way in transition before Marton Nemes snuck free in the slot to quickly give Bentley a two-goal lead.

Princeton had a prime chance to cut into the lead when Bentley's Alec Leonard was called for a five-minute major after kneeing David Ma, but was unable to find the back of the net.

An insurance tally into the empty net from Bentley followed more unfortunate luck Princeton's way as a Chris Reiniger entry attempt broke a Bentley skater's stick and fell right into a 2-on-1 for the Falcons toward the empty net that mesic deposited with 1:59 to play.

The Tigers and Falcons finish their two-game series with a 6 p.m. puck drop on January 24 at Bentley Arena.