Warwick earns win on senior night

Matt Metcalf
Posted 2/3/15

Warwick seniors Savannah Hersey, Savannah Smith, Taylor Spinard and Erin Vermilye wouldn’t have wanted their senior night to go any other way.

The Lady Titans moved two points ahead of …

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Warwick earns win on senior night

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Warwick seniors Savannah Hersey, Savannah Smith, Taylor Spinard and Erin Vermilye wouldn’t have wanted their senior night to go any other way.

The Lady Titans moved two points ahead of Lincoln/Cumberland Co-op with a convincing 5-1 win over the Lady Lions on Saturday night.

The win came on a night at Thayer where Warwick’s four seniors were honored prior to the game for their contributions to the program.

“Tonight was great,” Hersey said. “I’ve been a part of three other senior nights, so it was nice to have my own.”

The Lady Titans had previously lost a close, 2-1, game to Lincoln/Cumberland earlier in the season, so Warwick needed a win to create some separation in the standings.

Both teams came out playing a bit careful, as each team looked as if they didn’t want to make that mistake to get in an early hole.

However, at 12:21 of the first period, Warwick was able to break through.

Madison Balutowski was able to get by the defense after a pass in the neutral zone from defenseman Natasha Savage, beating Michaela Simanski with a shot to the top shelf to give the Lady Titans a 1-0 lead.

Less than three minutes into the second period, Balutowksi scored her second goal of the night.

Kelsey Holmes carried the puck around the net and threw it in front, where Balutowski was able to bury a loose puck through traffic.

“Our offense was great tonight,” Smith said. “We were able to score some great goals.”

Alyssa Mathews scored on a shot from the point through a number of bodies in front of Simanski at 6:10 of the period to make it 3-0.

A little less than three minutes later, Lady Lions’ defenseman Cathryn Cunningham cut Warwick’s lead to 3-1. Cunningham collected the puck near the blue line after a turnover and beat a screened Vermilye with a shot to the blocker side.

It didn’t remain a two-goal game for long, though.

Warwick scored its most impressive goal of the game at 10:35 of the second period.

After a tripping penalty was assessed to Lincoln/Cumberland’s Giana Ritchie, Meagan Sullivan scored to make it 4-1.

The Lady Titans set up behind the Lady Lions’ net on the power play, and after a perfect passing sequence, Holmes found Sullivan in the slot, who one-touched the puck into an open cage.

Savage also was given an assist on the power play goal, her second of the night.

Warwick took a 4-1 lead into the intermission, thanks in large part to Warwick’s top line of Balutowski, Holmes and Sullivan, who scored three of the four goals over the first two periods and four of five for the game.

“They played great tonight,” Warwick head coach Dave Tibbetts said. “They create some match-up problems for whoever we play because of their speed and skill.”

Vermilye was also outstanding over the first two periods and over the course of the game, as a screened shot was the only one that got by her all night.

The senior goaltender praised her defense, who only allowed 15 shots in three periods, selling out to block shots all game long.

“They did a great job in front of me tonight,” Vermilye said of her defense. “I know that they’ll always be there to block shots and help me out.”

Holmes added an unassisted goal at 8:06 of the final period to add some more insurance for the Lady Titans.

Warwick was led by Balutowski with two goals, while Holmes added a goal and two assists. Sullivan also scored a goal and added an assist and Savage tallied two helpers.

There was no doubt that the win was crucial for the Lady Titans, who moved into sole possession of fifth place, now just two points behind Burrillville/Ponaganset Co-op with a game in-hand.

However, the win was even bigger to avenge the 2-1 loss less than a month prior – a game that Warwick felt that it could’ve won.

“It was definitely nice to beat them after the loss earlier in the season,” Spinard said.

The Lady Titans will now play first place La Salle on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at URI’s Brad Boss Arena.

With just five league games remaining, Warwick feels like it’s in a good position to play its best hockey down the stretch.

“We’re healthy and the toughest part of our schedule is behind us,” Tibbetts said. “We’re hoping that things will really come together and we can finish the year strong.”

The Lady Titans, now 6-4, fell to the Rams, 7-0, in their first game of the season. However, Warwick feels that it’s playing much better hockey at this point of the season.

“Coach always says it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Hersey said.

Comments

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  • BobSavage

    See highlight video of the Lady Titans vs. Lincoln/Cuberland games played on January 10th and 31st:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaLGbtxgQA

    Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Report this

  • BobSavage

    See video of Lady Titans' Senior Night 2015 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or4XUPN6L1U

    Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Report this