The past few years have been all about building for the Warwick girls’ co-op hockey team, as it strived to become the first public school to accomplish certain goals.

Win a Division I postseason series? Check.

Win a state championship? Check.

Now, the defending state champions are out to become the first public school to do something else – defend a title.

The Lady Titans are fresh off a magical season, one where they defeated La Salle two games to none for the state crown, but they’re not planning on resting on their laurels. With a good portion of last year’s team back, and a number of players who have been waiting in the wings, Warwick is poised to make another run at the top spot.

There are a few key players that will need to be replaced, but all in all the Lady Titans are in a good place once again.

“Our goal is to repeat,” said assistant coach Tom McCormick. “They all know it, we all know it. It’s not acceptable to not give 100-percent.”

Graduation didn’t hit Warwick too hard, as the most significant loss was Jaime Given, a solid contributor on last year’s team. However, two of the team’s most important players did leave for prep school, complicating the situation. Standout defenseman Abby Ellis, who was widely considered to be among the top players in the state, is at Tabor Academy, while last year’s state championship series MVP, freshman goaltender Gabriella Dicomitis, is at Williston Northampton Prep.

Adding to those losses are preseason injuries to sophomore Paula Cavanagh and junior Mariana Brawn, meaning that five big-time members from last year’s unit aren’t on the ice.

Still, that’s been an opportunity for others to show what they can do.

“It gives the other kids the opportunity to show their skills,” McCormick said. “I think they’re excited for the opportunity. I really was worried coming into the year that maybe we would have rested on our laurels a little bit. But I haven’t seen it. These kids are busting their butts everyday in practice. They’re doing an unbelievable job.”

Helping ease any transitional phase the Lady Titans might be going through are its top two forwards, juniors Madison Balutowski and Kelsey Holmes.

Balutowski was the state’s leading scorer last year, while Holmes finished near the top as well. They’re as good as anybody.

Together, with junior Caroline Henn, they’re forming a formidable top line.

“We’ve got what I think is the top line in the state,” said head coach Dave Tibbetts.

On defense, Warwick has a veteran group, led by senior Savannah Hersey. The rest of the back four are juniors Alyssa Mathews and Makenzie Driscoll and sophomore Natasha Savage.

Ellis was the team’s top defender last year, certainly, and also was an elite scorer for the Lady Titans. Yet, with her gone, Tibbetts doesn’t expect much of an offensive drop-off from the blue liners.

“They can all score,” Tibbetts said. “With Abby doing all the scoring the last couple of years, some of them have kind of held back a little bit I think. We’re working more with them, and we’re definitely going to put some pucks in the net.”

In goal, senior Erin Vermilye is stepping into the spot left by Dicomitis. She hasn’t had a ton of experience, but she did play some last year and has routinely played well when given the chance.

“She’s ready to step in and get her opportunity,” Tibbetts said. “We’re pretty confident that she’s going to do a good job.”

The back-up goalie is freshman Mary Greenwell, who is trying her hand at hockey for the first time.

Up front, after the team’s standout first line is a second line paced by juniors Abi Given and Victoria LaFazia and sophomore Meagan Sullivan. They all played on a third line last year and are just moving up a slot this year.

“They’ve been doing a real good job so far,” McCormick said.

Freshman Shannon McCamish will also see some time on the ice when she’s healthy, but she’s currently on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

The landscape around the state has changed some, as well, as the two divisions that have been the standard the past few years have been eliminated. Last year there were 10 teams, but Bay View left the RIIL this season, and with nine teams the league is now just one big division.

The Lady Titans will now be trying to outlast eight other teams.

Warwick already played its Injury Fund game last Saturday, skating to a 2-2 tie with Burrillville/Mt. Hope/Portsmouth.

“It’s going to be a very competitive season,” Tibbetts said. “Barrington is good, Burrillville is going to be good, La Salle is very good. It’s going to be a mix.”

The season gets started in earnest on Friday, where Warwick will take on La Salle at 6 p.m. at Burrillville’s Levy Rink in a rematch of last year’s state title series.

The Lady Titans will have a target on their back. They’re hoping to take it in stride.

“If each one of them personally improves and takes pride in that, then the team will improve,” McCormick said. “We drill that into them every day.”