“One might expect a rookie coach to feel butterflies about taking over a program that’s won seven consecutive state titles. Especially when graduation took more than half the team’s goals with it.But new boys’ lacrosse coach Ryan Painter doesn’t seem at all apprehensive.There are over 100 kids in Bainbridge who play lacrosse, and I can name every one, he says.He’s coached lacrosse at Woodward for three years – a job he still holds – and I have the respect of the kids, so it’s easy to fit in.One reason for that respect is that Painter, who grew up in Victoria, B.C., has been playing lacrosse himself for 20 years, beginning when he was four. His path here went through a hospital operating room. Recuperating after anterior cruciate ligament surgery several years ago, he spent some time visiting his mother, who lives on the East Side. There he heard about the opening at Woodward.I jumped at the opportunity, he recalls.As a natural extension of working at the intermediate school he also helped out with the varsity, began spending his springs living on the island and took over the program this year when Dave Low stepped down.The defense will have to step up with so many scorers gone and become the team’s main strength, Painter feels, with senior Peter Bonoff providing the physical and emotional spark.He’s a vocal leader and he also leads by example, Painter says. The guys definitely feed off him.Other strong defensemen are senior Trevor Kale, junior Andy Crane and sophomore Ethan Piraino. Two freshmen, Dylan Preble and Andrew Shelton, are also expected to make major contributions.Leading midfielders include seniors Jesse Savage, John Moore, and Jesse Fairbank. Another midfielder who’s made an impression is sophomore Scott Burkland.He’s playing at a high level for his age and experience, Painter says.Two other sophomores, Ross Maloney and Spencer Evans, are also likely to see a lot of action.Both are six-footers, who give us presence and size on what Painter terms a relatively small but quick team.Junior Adam Smith, the team’s leading scorer last year with 42 goals, will lead the Spartan attack. I expect big things of him, says Painter.Fellow junior Jacob Hayashi has moved up from the JV team to become the second starting attacker. Four other players – seniors Erik Steinecker and Mitchel Lamoureux, junior Matt Steffen and sophomore Andy Kelly – will compete for the third starting slot.The team’s goalie is sophomore Charlie Delius.A turnout of nearly 70 players this year allows Painter and the other coaches to put together three teams: varsity A, varsity B, and JV. The varsity B has its own tournament and as a result some seniors are playing at that level. Previously they would have been varsity A, but not gotten much playing time.This way they give the B team more experience and leadership, while some young stars get the chance to play at the A level, Painter says. It’s a win-win situation – everybody plays and everybody’s happy.He sees traditional powers Mercer Island, Eastside, and Lakeside – the only team to beat the Spartans last year in a 13-1 season – as providing the most competition.The keys to our success are speed, finesse, stick efficiency and our transition game, Painter says.Another key is the packed stands for home games.Bainbridge traditionally has the most, the best, the loudest fans in the league, Painter says.They’ll get their first chance to maintain this lofty reputation when the B’s host Curtis next Wednesday at 5 p.m. The A team’s home opener is a week from Saturday against Bellevue at 4 p.m. “