Lady Titans turning to youth for new campaign

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 12/1/16

It is a tall task for any team to compete after losing its top seven scorers, but the Warwick Schools girls' ice hockey co-op is putting the pieces in place to recuperate from a tough offseason. The Titans

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Lady Titans turning to youth for new campaign

Posted

It is a tall task for any team to compete after losing its top seven scorers, but the Warwick Schools girls’ ice hockey co-op is putting the pieces in place to recuperate from a tough offseason.

The Titans endured an emotional end to the season last year, while many of their elite scoring and defensive options exited the program. Madison Balutowski, the all-time leading scorer in Rhode Island girls’ high school hockey history, is now suiting up at the University of Rhode Island. Top-flight defender Natasha Savage went prep, forcing the blue line to start from scratch as well.

“There’s only six veteran players returning,” Warwick head coach Dave Tibbetts said. “They’re eager to get the season started and put the past in the past.”

Balutowski registered 27 points to lead the Titans, while Kelsey Holmes and Savage fell behind her with 17 and 14, respectively. Mariana Brawn and Caroline Henn notched nine points. Alyssa Mathews’ eight assists slotted her at sixth in scoring just in front of Victoria LaFazia’s six.

All of those players but Savage graduated, leaving sophomore Nicole Procaccini as the highest returning scorer with five points. That tally is deceiving, though, as Procaccini showed glimpses of being the next offensive star for Warwick last season.

“She cracked the ice as a freshman,” Tibbetts said. “She can put the puck in the net.”

Joining Procaccini on the top line will be captain Shannon McCamish, who missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, and former goaltender and sophomore Rebecca Yaseen. Abi Given and Mya Linchitz, who each tallied a couple of points last season, will hold down the second line with Elisa Saccoccia.

“Yaseen has incredible hands,” Tibbetts said. “She will be first line, we’ll be all right.”

Junior captain Mary Greenwell takes back her position between the pipes, and Tibbetts said she has been working on her craft throughout the summer. With a young defense and nobody to fill Savage’s role, Greenwell will be charged with playing some of the best goaltending of her career.

She has progressed tremendously over the past few seasons after never having laced up a pair of skates before high school.

“Greenwell never skated before ninth grade,” Tibbetts said. “She’s worked incredibly hard to become a really competitive goalie, which is the hardest position in any sport to play. She worked hard in the summer doing clinics. She played about half the games for us last year.”

Rose Flaherty, Grace Barta, Bebe’ Collette and Karrinne Medeiros will form the defensive pairings, but Tibbetts said the back line will be a “work in progress” throughout the season.

The new-look Warwick crew will have some time to gel early in the season against some of the state’s toughest competition. The Titans open the calendar with the La Salle/Moses Brown co-op this Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at Thayer Arena. Next weekend, it plays host to the East Bay and South County co-ops.

Warwick will have some bumps in the road, but the increased competition will help shape this youthful squad into a contender down the line. It will be an arduous start to the campaign, but the Titans have been resilient this year in more ways than one.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here