WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Freshman Trevor Cope (White Lake, Mich.) scored twice including the game-tying goal to help American International College escape with a 5-5 tie over Bentley University in Atlantic Hockey Conference action this evening from the Olympia Ice Center.

The Jackets move to 5-17-2 overall and 5-12-2 in conference action while the Falcons drop to 9-13-3 on the season and 7-9-3 in Atlantic Hockey play.

Down 5-3 heading into the final 20 minutes, after a five-goal outburst by the Falcons in the second period, AIC used the man-advantage to pull closer as just 14 seconds into the power-play freshman Ryan Polin (Holt, Mich.) sent a wrister on net from the left point that found the back of the net due to traffic out front for the 5-4 score at 12:55.

Cope then played a little give-and-go with freshman Marc Dubeau (St. Lina, Alb.) and was able to finish for the equalizer at 16:26 for the 5-5 score.

With all the momentum the Yellow Jackets nearly sank Bentley just over a minute later as it was senior Chris Porter (Stoufville, Ont.) finding freshman Shawn McBride (Victoria, B.C.) out front of the crease, but he was stonewalled as the game would go into overtime.

Neither team had a quality scoring chance in the extra session and both teams were awarded a single-point in a crucial conference game.

AIC jumped to the early lead for the second night in-a-row as sophomore Johno May (Mahtomedi, Minn.) skated through the neutral zone and dished to McBride who took the puck over the blue-line and found Porter in the left slot who fired a wrist-shot that beat Falcon sophomore net-minder Jayson Argue (Swan River, Manitoba) over the left shoulder for the 1-0 edge at 10:45.

Polin then helped extend the lead for the Jackets in the waning moments of the opening period as he sent a slap shot on net from the left slot that found the back of the net off the stick of sophomore Bryant Christian (Moorhead, Minn.) at 19:35 for the 2-0 advantage.

Bentley came out of the first break firing on all cylinders and quickly erased the deficit by potting a pair of goals in just 16 seconds as junior Max French (West Kelowna, B.C.) and freshman Jake Algren (Fergus Falls, Minn.) each lit the lamp at 3:56 and 4:12, respectively.

The Yellow Jackets, however, responded quickly to regain the lead as freshman Trevor Cope (White Lake, Mich.) found the back of the net for his third of the season just 31 ticks later for the 3-2 score.

Bentley came right back with the equalizer again as it was senior Derek Bacon (Calgary, Alb.) at 5:46 pulling things even before classmate Andrew Gladiuk (White Rock, B.C.) gave the Falcons their first lead of the game at 9:14 for the 4-3 score.

French added his second of the game with a power-play score at 16:30 to give the visitors five goals in the middle frame after scoring five in the final period last night.

Argue stopped 25 shots to move to 3-6-2 on the year while sophomore Alex Murray (Burlington, Ont.) collected 30 saves and moves to 5-12-2 on the year.

The Jackets were outshot 35-30 for the game while each squad went 1-for-2 with the man-advantage.

AIC returns to action on Tuesday as they travel to Princeton for a 7:05 p.m. non-conference affair.