Charlie Breitrose The Raiders celebrate scoring a second period goal against Dedham in the State Tournament.
A second period scoring burst sent the Watertown High School boys hockey on the way to an 8-1 victory over Dedham, and moved on to a round that the Raiders haven’t reached in several years.
With the win, second-seeded Watertown reached the Round of 8 in the Div. 4 State Tournament, the equivalent of the Section final under MIAA’s old system. The Raiders last made it that far in 2016.
Head Coach John Vlachos liked the way his team played in the Round of 16 game, played at John Ryan Arena.
“It was a good win for us. The boys came out flying,” Vlachos said. “That was a good Dedham team, but the boys came out, they were moving the puck today — from the goalie to the defense to the forwards — it was great.”
Charlie Breitrose Watertown’s Jack Dickie shoots the puck at the Dedham net. He scored twice in the Round of 16 victory.
The teams skated scoreless most of the first period until sophomore Alec Banosian hit the back of the net with 3:16 left in the period. He was assisted by junior Anthony Venezia and senior Mason Andrade. The period ended with Watertown up 1-0.
The lead only lasted seven second in the second period. Richard Gillis scored for Dedham to even the score. Watertown scored the first of three second period goals 2:38 into the second when junior Jack Dickie scored a power play goal. Junior Mauricio Souza and Venezia assisted. Sophomore James Erickson scored with 7:03 left in the second, off a pass from Souza. Andrade scored an unassisted, shorthanded goal with 5:57 left in the second to make it 4-1 Watertown.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s Alec Banosian celebrates after scoring against Dedham in the State Tourney. 
Vlachos liked the way his team responded to giving up the tying goal.
“You know what, I think the players just turned it to the next level and came back with a quick goal, and then it just opened up from there,” Vlachos said.
Charlie Breitrose
Junior Daniel Tattrie skated the puck in the corner against Dedham in Wednesday’s State Tournament game. 
The lead opened up further in the third period. First, Andrade scored 36 seconds into the period. He was assisted by Banosian and Souza. Senior Michael Cormier scored just over two minutes later, with an assist from senior Nathan Master.
With 5:04 left, Cormier scored again, this time with assists from Malcolm MacDonald and junior Daniel Tattrie. The final tally game with 1:16 left when Dickie hit the upper corner. The goal was assisted by freshman Domenic Moynihan and Banosian.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s Mason Andrade lays a check on a Dedham player in the State Tournament game. Andrade had two goals in the game.
The Raiders have dominated both of the first two State Tournament games. In the first round they beat South Shore Tech 12-0. Watertown has outshot their opponents 95 to 30 in the two games, Vlachos said.
Watertown improved to 12-9-1 and they will face seventh-seeded Grafton (13-6-2), a 6-1 winner over Burncoat. The teams will face off Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m. at Watertown’s John Ryan Arena.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown found the back of the Dedham net eight times in the State Tournament victory. 