While the Dedham High boys hockey team has tasted victory before this season — twice actually — because those win came in overtime on the way to the Petruzziello Plaza Classic title, officially they went in the books as ties, leaving a gaping hole in the win column so far this year for the Marauders.
Yesterday, that hole was a filled with a 4-0 triumph over Brookline, recording the first Bay State Conference victory over the year and removing the zero in front of the record at 1-13-2.
Brookline used a rare strategy of using a pair of forwards as floaters to try and spring breakouts, but the Marauders made them pay by intercepting passes and converting them into goals.
‘The kids have been working hard, we have been in the last three games,” said Dedham coach Paul Podolski. “Brookline did something I had never seen in my 24 years of coaching but I was real pleased with a way the kids handled something we had never really worked on.”
The Marauders got goals from four different sources. After a scoreless first, defenseman Dan Riley gave Dedham a lead with a slapper from the point. Rob Zarthar made it 2-0 later in the second from in front of the net. Nick Valentino and Walker Macon added third period goals to ice it.
Riley and Macon added assists for Dedham, which got a boost from the return of Nick Tannetta from injury as the senior provided a physical presence. Michael Rahilly turned away all 19 Brookline shots he faced for the shutout, his second this year.
Westwood 5, Hopkinton 0
Freddy Tonsberg and Mike Musto each scored twice as a blanking of Hillers bumped the Wolverines mark to 10-4-2 on the season Saturday.
Musto’s power-play score was the only tally of the first but Westwood opened it up with three in the second, two by Tonsberg and one by Musto.
Brandon Tonsberg wrapped up the scoring in the third. Kevin Gaving and Brett Egizi each had pair of assists. Joe Maher and Mike Foxx combined on the shutout in net.
Xaverian 8, Westford 1
The Hawks broke out of the gate with four goals in the first period Saturday in improving to 8-3-2 on the season.
Brian Isaac and Andrew White each had two goals and an assist to lead the way. Isaac had both of his in the first, joining Matt Hennessey and Ronny Walsh in helping Xaverian get out to a 4-0 advantage after the first.
White made it 5-0 in the second and then struck for a shorthanded goal early in the third. Pat Breed got his first goal of the season and Pat Boleza the first of his varsity career to cap the scoring in the third.
Kyle MacDonald stopped all 10 shots he saw before giving way to Brian Loughlin in the third.
Nobles 4, St. Paul’s 1
Matt Harlow and Kevin Hayes scored about a minute apart late in the second period on breakaways helping the Bulldogs take a 3-0 lead and go on for their fourth straight win.
Hayes assisted on the lone goal in the opening period, feeding Billy Arnold in the top of the slot for a 1-0 advantage.
Mark Hourihan and Ben Wiggins sent Harlow in on a partial breakaway for a 2-0 lead and Harlow quickly followed by blocking a shot from the point and went in uncontested from the neutral zone.
Gene Lane stopped 29 of 30 shots sent his way to earn the win in goal for Nobles, which evened its record in the Keller Division at 5-5 and improved to 14-9 overall.
Harlow added his second of the game with an empty netter.
Framingham 3, Walpole 2
Flyer goalie Cam Chassie made 38 saves to down the Rebels and sew up a tournament spot for the Framingham. Walpole remains a point behind Norwood and now Milton in the BSC Herget race at 7-5-1 in the league and 11-5-1 overall.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Walpole 2, Wellesley 2
Walpole 4, Framingham 1
It was a productive weekend for the Rebels as they knotted the BSC Herget leaders then took out a tournament-bound Flyer team to improve to 11-4-3.
Jacey Dold gave Walpole an early lead in the first but Wellesley tied it during a 14-shot barrage in the second then went ahead in the third. It took Walpole just a minute to even it back up though on a Kelsey Cosby goal.
The line of Cosby, Emily Cronin and Kellie Duffy sparked the Rebels past Framingham with three goals. Cronin scored twice, Duffy had one and Cosby assisted on all three. Jacqui Dolan got the Rebels on the board first as Walpole led 2-0 after one and 3-0 in the second.
Sue Cunniff backstopped both games, making 29 saves against the Raiders and 19 against the Flyers.
Dedham 7, Brookline 0
The Marauders guaranteed themselves a spot in the tournament with Saturday’s shutout of the Warriors, moving to 9-6-1 on the season. While Dedham has just 19 points with 20 scheduled games, next week’s contest against St. Peter-Marian will not be played, with the Marauders likely receiving a forfeit.
Meghan Dwan paced the Dedham attack with a hat trick, Tara Celata added a pair of goals and Jackie Collins and Gina Jay each had one for Dedham, which got strong efforts out of seniors Brooke and Leah Byrne and Caity Fahey. Sarah Mosca recorded the shutout in net.
Needham 2, Norwood 1
Kate Allen made 32 saves to keep the Mustangs within striking distance the entire way, but the visitors were unable to generate enough offense on Saturday.
Allen kept the game scoreless into the third period before the Rockets finally broke through with about 10 minutes remaining. They would add a much-needed insurance goal as Meredith Kiy got Norwood on the board by scoring with 3 seconds left with the contest as they had the extra attacker on. Haley O’Rourke and Sabrina Roy were credited with assists on the goal.
Nobles 6, Brooks 1
The Bulldogs tuned up for today’s key clash with fellow unbeaten Lawrence Academy with an easy win over host Brooks on Saturday, improving to 17-0 overall, 6-0 in the ISL.
Corey Stearns scored the first three goals of the game, while Kelly Cooke, Kaitlin Spurling and Denna Laing each added a goal and an assist. Defensemen Jackie Young and Alex Piersiak each contributed two assists.
