WINTHROP – In a matchup between two of the top Division 4 boys hockey programs, Winthrop was able to ride strong defense and timely scoring to secure a 2-1 victory over Dover-Sherborn/Weston.

The matchup featured the two most recent state champions, as Winthrop won the title last year while Dover-Sherborn/Weston won in 2024. It was also the first matchup between the programs since the 2024 postseason, where the Raiders defeated the Vikings 2-1 in a shootout to advance to the championship.

“We lost to these guys two years ago to go to the Garden,” Vikings head coach Dale Dunbar said. “It’s different teams, but still, we wanted to come out and right the ship.”

Dover-Sherborn/Weston has sampled the recent Div. 4 champions this season, having already faced 2022 champion Sandwich and 2023 champion Norwell in the Jim Gormley Tournament. However, head coach Alex Marlow said his team had been looking forward to the matchup against the Vikings especially.

“This was definitely a game we had circled,” Marlow said. “We sought them out. I wanted to come here and play in this atmosphere and see how we can live up to it.”

The first period featured strong defense from both sides, with the Vikings’ neutral zone trap notably frustrating the speedy Raiders’ offense. This eventually led to a Raiders turnover in the slot, which saw Max Dassau fire a shot on net and Braedon Lounsbury pounce on the rebound and bury it in the back of the net.

“We played a really smart three-zone game,” Dunbar said. “We don’t give up much and try to give the other team less real estate.”

This would be the only scoring for the opening period, and the second period went by without any additional scoring. This was despite some excellent chances for the Raiders, which Vikings goaltender Jim Lyman (35 saves) handled with ease.

Winthrop’s Nate Previte, left, and Dover-Sherborn/Weston’s Christos Rogaris trip each other up chasing the puck during a boys hockey game Saturday in Winthrop. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

“I was just staying calm and seeing the puck really well,” Lyman said. “My defense helped me out a lot by clearing the puck and getting the bodies away from me.”

The Vikings added to their lead early in the third period on the power play when Joe Pumphret fed the puck to Domenic Spinale in the slot and the junior picked a corner and buried the puck.

“Really just was about being gritty in the corners and getting to a spot for my guys to get me the puck,” Spinale said. “It’s a really good team effort, we were good on the power play and got great chances.”

A few minutes later, Max Patenaude broke the scoreless stretch for the Raiders by beating Lyman five-hole to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Raiders controlled play in the late stages of the period, winning the shots on goal battle 36-23. However, with strong play from Lyman and timely clears from the defense, the Vikings held on to win.

This late defensive stand came just one game after the Vikings squandered a 2-1 lead in the final seconds to Lynnfield before losing to the Pioneers in overtime. Dunbar said his team’s ability to lock it down in this games shows the improvement they have already made this season.

Winthrop goalie James Lyman deflects the puck during a boys hockey game against Dover-Sherborn/Weston in Winthrop. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

“We don’t usually give those up,” Dunbar said. “To come back and be in that scenario and get through it shows that it was a character win for us. It was a tough, hard-fought battle.”

With the win over a fellow Div. 4 contender wrapped up, Spinale said the Vikings feel like they are making positive strides as a group.

“The boys are having fun,” Spinale said. “It’s really good camaraderie, and when you have that in a locker room you can go far.”