FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Savannah Hersey

Posted 7/9/15

From September to June, Warwick Vets’ senior Savannah Hersey’s momentum never slowed.

Despite picking up field hockey just four years ago, she is the best player in the city and earned the top …

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FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Savannah Hersey

Posted

From September to June, Warwick Vets’ senior Savannah Hersey’s momentum never slowed.

Despite picking up field hockey just four years ago, she is the best player in the city and earned the top nod for the sport once again this season for the second time in a row. Hersey helped Vets to a 10-4-2 record and a berth in the Division II semifinals. The ‘Canes posted their best record since winning the D-II state title in 2005 with a 14-1-1 campaign.

She got back to the playoffs in the winter, this time getting a bit farther than she did in the fall. She rounded out her Warwick Co-op hockey career with another state championship after a 2-1 series victory over Mount St. Charles.

She told the Beacon after the Titans’ opening loss in the title series that the team didn’t play up to its usual level. She helped make sure they did going forward.

“We don’t want to lose,” she said back in mid-March to the Beacon’s Eric Rueb. “It could be my last game and I don’t want to lose. I want another state championship.”

Her stalwart defense was integral in holding the Mounties to three goals over the final two games after they had scored four in their only victory of the series.
“[She’s] stronger than most of her competition,” Warwick Co-op head coach Dave Tibbetts said. “She can power through people and gained a lot of confidence going to the net this year”

Her offense was effective, too. She potted eight goals for the Titans this season, totaling 24 scores for her career with the team.

Hersey helped bring a third squad to the playoffs in the spring en route to earning the title of Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year. She’s no stranger to postseason appearances in this sport, either. She was vital in leading the ‘Canes to three straight playoffs.

The Vets girls’ lacrosse team managed just a 2-8 record this year, but it earned the last seed in the Division III postseason. Hersey and the ‘Canes battled top-seeded Classical (9-1) and lost a close, high-scoring match, 16-10.

Finding the back of the net was commonplace for Hersey this spring, as she led all players in the city with 57 goals. She was also eighth in the state in that category.

Hersey was one of the most dominant athletes in the state over the course of all three seasons and seemingly never missed a beat, both as a player and a leader.

“She has a way of building relationships with her teammates,” Tibbetts said. “She leads mostly by example and she is a great role model for the younger players.”

Her example can set a solid precedent for things to come in field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse. All three squads have youthful and rising talent, and Hersey’s ability to teach and grow with teammates could cultivate success down the road for all of those players. Having a few Hersey’s on any of those teams certainly wouldn’t hurt their playoff chances going forward.

- J.M.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

Athlete of the Year - Savannah Hersey, Warwick Vets

ALL CITY TEAM

Emily Fluette, Pilgrim, Midfielder

Hannah Johnson, Pilgrim, Midfielder

Hannah Page, Pilgrim, Attacker

Alex Pouliot, Pilgrim, Goalie

Paula Cavanagh, Pilgrim, Attacker

Emma Reilly, Pilgrim, Midfielder

Sophia DeLuca, Pilgrim, Midfielder

Alexia Martins, Pilgrim, Defender

Kendra Tantimonico, Pilgrim, Midfielder

Emma Nason, Warwick Vets, Attacker

Kat Raposo, Warwick Vets, Attacker

HONORABLE MENTION

Karinne Medeiros, Warwick Vets

Danica Butler, Warwick Vets

Molly Lynch, Pilgrim

Madison Almonte, Pilgrim

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tom Flanders, Pilgrim

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