Jason Torf made a series of game-saving stops throughout Friday night’s Atlantic Hockey Association matchup against Bentley at Cadet Ice Arena.

However, the senior Air Force goalie could not get enough of a Brett Switzer shot with 3:44 remaining, getting beat shortside amidst a 2-2 game and Air Force (7-5-1, 4-2) fell to Bentley (5-7, 4-2) 4-2.

“The guy shot it through my defenseman’s stick (Mike McDonald) and I made a mental error,” Torf said. I thought I had it and took my eyes off it for a half second and that’s what happens unfortunately.”

It was Switzer’s second goal of the game after the junior, who had two goals entering the contest, swatted home a rebound to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:07 remaining in the second period.

Switzer’s game-winner appeared to be slightly tipped off McDonald’s stick, causing the puck to ricochet just under Torf’s armpit.

“Just kind of lucky shot,” Switzer said. “It was late in the game, and I was just trying to put pucks on net.”

Justin Breton scored an empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining to seal it.

While Bentley held only a 34-32 advantage in shots, it was the seventh time in eight games that Air Force allowed over 30 shots.

Air Force coach Frank Serratore was concerned with the number of quality shots his team surrendered.

“I am more concerned with the amount of quality chances we gave up,” Serratore said. “Credit them on some of it, but it’s also a fault of us on some. Until we get committed to getting pucks out and pucks deep and winning battles we are probably going to be inconsistent.”

Torf passed Mark Liebich (1988-90) for fourth all time in program history by stopping a Matt Blomquist second period shot and now has 2,567 career saves.

The 6-foot goaltender made a fantastic left-pad save on Alex Grieve early in the third period on a Bentley 3-on-1 to keep the game tied 2-2.

“Jason put us in a position to win,” Serratore said. “We had some breakdowns and he made some magnificence saves.”

Bentley starter Branden Komm finished with 30 saves to earn the win. The senior’s finest came with 4:50 remaining when he dove across the crease to rob Chad Demers of a potential game-winning power-play goal from inside the right slot.

Demers had given Air Force a 2-1 lead midway through the second period when he scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway.

Tony Thomas got things started 9:21 into the game when he lifted home a rebound off his backhand for his fourth goal of the year after George Michalke III crashed the net hard from behind the Bentley goal. However, the Air Force lead was short-lived as Bentley’s Andrew Gladiuk scored his eighth of the season 29 seconds later on a wrist shot.

University of New Hampshire Wildcats right defense Brett Pesce (22) and right wing Jeff Silengo (18) scramble for a loose puck during a match up between the Colorado College Tigers and the New Hampshire Wildcats at World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Friday, November 29, 2013. (Kent Nishimura, The Gazette)

KENT NISHIMURA, THE GAZETTE