Ben Kucera‘s goal just 39 seconds into the third period was the difference as No. 18 Air Force defeated Bentley, 2-1, on Saturday night to sweep the teams’ best-of-3 Atlantic Hockey Conference quarterfinal series.

AFA’s Shane Starrett allowed one goal in two games this weekend.

Air Force (24-9-5), which outshot Bentley 39-14, advances to the AHC final four in Rochester, N.Y., next weekend. It was Air Force’s fifth victory in six games against Bentley (13-19-7) this season.

Kucera’s goal came with an assist from Evan Feno, the sophomore’s fourth point of the weekend. Jordan Himley staked Air Force to an early lead when he scored an unassisted goal 5:59 into the game.

Bentley got the equalizer with 9:50 to play in the second period when Andrew McDonald scored an even-strength goal.

Shane Starrett, selected last week as one of 10 semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award, made 13 saves for Air Force and allowed just one goal on the weekend. Aidan Pelino made 37 saves for Bentley.

Both teams had to kill off 5-minute majors – Bentley late in the second period and Air Force midway through the third.