Balutowski comes up big for Warwick

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 3/19/15

Every championship team has that player that teammates can look to for a spark.

In game two of the DeCosta Division finals, Warwick was down 1-0 in the third period, facing elimination.

But …

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Balutowski comes up big for Warwick

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Every championship team has that player that teammates can look to for a spark.

In game two of the DeCosta Division finals, Warwick was down 1-0 in the third period, facing elimination.

But then Madison Balutowski, with a tremendous individual effort, created an opportunity with her speed and released a wrist shot that banked off of Victoria LaFazia, who was crashing the net, and deflected into the back of the cage. Balutowski then iced game two with a snipe short-side to send the series to a third game.

And when the championship was on the line in the third period on Monday night, who do you think came through with the game-winner? None other than Balutowski, propelling Warwick into the record books with a wrist shot that beat Mount’s Taylor Dill clean over the glove.

The goal marked Balutowski’s 31st of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“During my off-season, I always try to improve, so when it comes to big games like this, I can put out what I’m capable of doing,” Balutowski said.

She certainly did that for a second-straight season.

Hockey is a team game, but Balutowski had a season to remember individually, surpassing the 30-goal plateau.

After scoring just south of two goals per game during the regular season last year – 28 goals in 16 games – the junior came back with a season just as strong, if not greater.

Balutowski earned a First Team All-State nod last season as the state’s top goal scorer, and she should be well on her way to another First Team selection in the coming weeks.

But, with all that she’s accomplished in her career, maybe the most impressive milestone came during a game in late February.

In an 8-1 win over Cranston Co-op, Balutowski registered her 100th point, becoming the first ever Lady Titan to surpass the century mark in just three seasons.

Some talented players have come and gone in recent years, so the feat was without a doubt special for Balutowski.

“It feels amazing,” Balutowski said of the accomplishment.

Knowing that Balutowski was the engine that made Warwick’s offense go, her team looked to her to provide a lift – and she did, not only in the finals, but in the semifinals, as well.

In a sweep of Smithfield Co-op, Balutowski scored four goals – two in each game – to pace the Lady Titans to 5-1 and 5-2 wins.

But with all of the personal accolades that she has piled up in the past two seasons, one thing trumps all of that for Balutowski – winning.

It was no more evident than the moment after the junior had helped her team to a championship for a second-consecutive season.

“This makes me want a third (championship),” Balutowski said. “I want to finish my senior year with what I came in to do. As a freshman, I came in wanting a championship and, now that I have two, I want a third one now.”

With Balutowski penciled in to Warwick’s top offensive line for her senior year, is there any reason to believe that the Lady Titans won’t contend for a title again next season?

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