’Canes hoping for more success in D-III

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 4/9/15

The Warwick Vets girls’ lacrosse team finished in eighth out of 12 teams in Division II with a 4-7 record last spring.

It wasn’t a bad season for the ’Canes, but with several key pieces …

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’Canes hoping for more success in D-III

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The Warwick Vets girls’ lacrosse team finished in eighth out of 12 teams in Division II with a 4-7 record last spring.

It wasn’t a bad season for the ’Canes, but with several key pieces departing from the team due to graduation, the team has moved down to Division III for this season.

What Vets is left with is a largely inexperienced roster, but it is hoping that the move will allow its current roster to compete.

“I think we’ll match-up better in Division III,” Vets’ head coach Kathy Palazzo said. “Division II was pretty mismatched with teams at the top and teams at the bottom and nothing in-between. Division III should be more competitive because it’ll be even across the board.”

At attack, Vets will be paced by Elizabeth Gemmell, Elizabeth Kane and Paige Lepore – three of the seniors on this year’s squad.

At midfield, seniors Savannah Hersey and Sloan Kinney, as well as junior Emma Nason and sophomores Kat Raposo and Karinne Medeiros are all set to make key contributions.

Highlighting the group of defenders for the ’Canes will be senior Frankie Medeiros and juniors Roberta Boeri and Kendra Howard.

In goal, two inexperienced keepers – freshmen Autumn Provonsil and Jessica Ginaitt – are set to split time in-between the pipes this season.

For never playing goal and accumulating a small amount of practice time thus far due to weather, Palazzo has been impressed with Provonsil and Ginaitt early on.

Assisting Palazzo this season will be Kathleen O’Grady.

There isn’t much experience on this year’s roster, so Vets will rely even more on those who do have experience.

This year’s senior captains – Hersey, Kinney and Frankie Medeiros – will be relied upon to provide leadership and steadiness on and off the field.

Thus far, they’ve done just that.

“Our captains are doing a good job of guiding the young players,” Palazzo said. “They’re taking them under their wing.”

Despite there being a lack of experience on the squad, there are plenty of athletes, with several of Vets’ first-timers playing other sports throughout the year.

That could play a role in a potential easy transition with some players, as Palazzo noted that running and stamina is half the battle.

Palazzo is hopeful that everything will come together by the end of the season.

“The beginning of the season could be tough, but we hope to be very competitive by the end,” Palazzo said. “Hopefully they’ll gel and come together by the end of the year.”

The ’Canes are set to open their season today at Westerly at 6 p.m.

Vets may have some bumps in the road early, but the goal is to get better with each game.

“Our goal is to just steadily progress and get better and better,” Palazzo said.

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