Championship bound

Lady Titans will look to capture D-II title this weekend

Posted 3/12/15

The Warwick Co-op girls’ hockey team will have a unique opportunity this weekend when they take on Mount St. Charles in the DeCosta Division finals at Brown University.

The Lady Titans, who …

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Championship bound

Lady Titans will look to capture D-II title this weekend

Posted

The Warwick Co-op girls’ hockey team will have a unique opportunity this weekend when they take on Mount St. Charles in the DeCosta Division finals at Brown University.

The Lady Titans, who became the first public school girls’ hockey team to win the Division I title last season, have a chance to become the first public school to win both a Division I and Division II championship.

Although Warwick would’ve liked to have had the opportunity to compete for another D-I title this season, it is still hungry to win the championship in the D-II playoffs.

“It was a little bit disappointing for us, but we’re going to make the best of the situation,” Warwick head coach Dave Tibbetts said.

The nine girls’ teams in the state played as one division this season, but it was split up when the playoffs rolled around, with the top four teams playing for the D-I title and the teams that finished fifth through eighth playing for the D-II title.

The Lady Titans just missed the D-I playoffs, finishing in fifth, giving them the top seed for the D-II playoffs.

Drawing eighth-seeded Smithfield/North Smithfield/Coventry in the D-II semis, the Lady Titans were able to make quick work of the Sentinels, sweeping the semifinal series 2-0 with 5-1 and 5-2 wins.

Junior Madison Balutowski led the Lady Titans in the semifinals, netting four of the team’s 10 goals.

While the Lady Titans were sweeping Smithfield, Mount St. Charles was putting together a sweep of its own, upsetting Lincoln/Cumberland Co-op with a pair of 2-1 overtime victories.

Although Warwick defeated the Mounties twice in the regular season, the Lady Titans aren’t taking them lightly.

“They’re a much improved team and they’re playing their best hockey of the season,” Tibbetts said of Mount. “They have good goaltending and some skilled forwards, as well.”

Tibbetts also knows that previous scores don’t matter when playoff time rolls around.

“Everything changes in the playoffs,” Tibbetts said. “Everyone’s record is 0-0.”

One advantage that the Lady Titans do have is playoff experience. Many of the girls on the team this season were on the team that won the state title a season ago.

Having players that know what it takes at this time of the year undoubtedly gives Warwick an edge.

“I think it can certainly be an advantage,” Tibbetts said. “I have a veteran team with playoff experience.”

Warwick will look to lean on its group of forwards, who have been dominant for much of the season. However, the Lady Titans are going with a bit of a different look for the playoffs. Warwick’s top two forwards – Balutowski and Kelsey Holmes – who played on the same line for the regular season, have been moved to separate lines to create some depth throughout the lineup.

Defensively, Savannah Hersey, Caroline Henn, Makenzie Driscoll and Alyssa Mathews will look to minimize Mount’s offensive production this weekend.

Senior goaltender Erin Vermilye will look to close out her career with a championship. She has been solid all season and Tibbetts believes that her play will continue against Mount.

“We’re excited to have her in net,” Tibbetts said. “She’s playing her best hockey of the season right now.”

Game one between the Lady Titans and Mounties will be on Friday at 6 p.m. The puck will drop for game two on Saturday at 6 p.m., while game three would be on Monday at 6 p.m., if necessary.

Both teams will be on an even playing field going into the series.

Last year, Warwick was able to make history and, this weekend, it’ll have the chance to make some more.

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