Spartans want to get back to the playoffs.

The Bainbridge girls soccer team already has one victory under its belt – head coach Scott Druker returned for another season.

For a team that has gone through its share of coaching changes, heartbreaking losses and inner turmoil, the return of Druker gives the team some consistency going into the 2008 season.

Last year, the Spartans went 5-9-2 as they missed the playoffs for the first time in several years. They lost five games by just one goal.

This year, Druker feels the team is much more cohesive than in the past.

“They have a pretty good chemistry,” he said. “A lot of these girls were together two years ago (when Druker coached the girls’ junior varsity team) and worked together really well.

“Except for a couple of pieces, we should have the same chemistry,” Druker continued. “(Most of the team) has experience with me and know what I like to do. They know my philosophy.”

Druker also said he’ll be more in tune with what’s going on.

“I think we’ll be able to start off better because now I have a little more experience on the varsity side and seeing the difference between the varsity girls and the JV,” he said. “I see things differently and I can make adjustments quicker rather than later.

“On my end I’ll be able to help the girls do better.”

Senior co-captains Alex Mynatt and Lauren Tyner agree with Druker in that this season will go better than last season.

“I think we’re going to be really good this year because we have played together for so long,” Tyner said.

“We all know each other from the past,” Mynatt said. “We have a few new people but they’re not really considered ‘new’ because we’ve played on the same select team for a few years now.”

This season, the Spartans will be without the services of All-Metro selections Ashley Waplinger, Lucy Donahue and Kathryn Deveraux.

Also gone from the team are Kristen Saksa, Annie Johns, Dina Singer, Lauren Ginder and Mariko Wolf.

Along with Mynatt and Tyner, several players returning from last year’s team include juniors Maddie Ginder, Melissa Hoshizaki, Haylee Baker, Hallie Swan, Lauren Silvers, Anastasia Tschida and goalkeeper Devon Denis.

“Alex should do good things for us,” Drucker said. “I think being the most experienced person at the varsity level, she’s got a lot more confidence for herself.

“Maddie will be solid,” Druker continued. “I don’t see her having a down game.”

Several players make their debut on varsity, including seniors Hannah Trageser and Analiese Gross, juniors Shea Kenyon, Mallory Farrar, Christina Crowley, Patricia Borges and Brooke Erickson along with sophmore Kendyl Daniels, who’ll switch between JV and varsity.

Druker hopes that they can cut down on the goals allowed this season and try to generate some offense as well.

“We had a few games get away from us (last year) with three goals (and) four goals scored against us,” he said. “Yeah, you can say some were garbage goals, but they still mean something.

“I’m hoping with a couple of our returners being up front and having experience there that we can generate a few more goals,” Druker continued.

That’ll come in handy in a Metro League that has no clear favorite, as many teams lost many seniors to graduation.

Tyner still feels Lakeside and Seattle Prep are the top teams, but Druker said everyone will make them work for a win.

“They all have good coaches and good players,” he said. “It’s competitive.”

But with a new artificial turf field coming in, Druker feels they’ll get on an even field with other teams that play primarily on turf – and they won’t be a pushover for anybody.

“I would be very surprised if someone overlooked us,” he said. “I’ll leave it at that.”

Bainbridge opens the season against Olympic Sept. 13.

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2008 girls soccer

● Much like the football team, the girls soccer team will be on the road for most of the first half of the season, but they will get some home games.

Saturday, Sept. 13 – at Olympic, noon

Tuesday, Sept. 16 – at Franklin, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 18 – at Lakeside, 4 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22 – at North Kitsap, 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23 – vs. West Seattle at Bainbridge HS practice field (by the fastpitch diamond), 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25 – at Eastside Catholic, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 30 – vs. Holy Names at Bainbridge HS practice field, 4 p.m.

*Thursday, Oct. 2 – vs. Seattle Prep at Bainbridge HS practice field, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 7 – at Ingraham, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9 – at Bishop Blanchet,

Tuesday, Oct. 14 – vs. Chief Sealth at Memorial Stadium, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 16 – vs. Lakeside, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21- vs. Eastside Catholic, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23 – at Holy Names, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 – vs. Bishop Blanchet, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30 – at Seattle Prep, 3:30 p.m.

*If the artificial turf field is ready, the game will be played at 6 p.m.