After last year’s disappointing 6-9-1 record, Bainbridge High School girls soccer coach Scott Druker believes this year’s team has a different attitude.

“They look a little more aggressive this year and are not as cautious as they used to play,” Druker said. “Now there are more people taking it into their own hands.”

The team, anchored by strong senior leadership to go along with some talented young players, is working on making fewer mistakes and shaking things up offensively.

In tryouts, Druker said, he was looking for attributes such as leadership, drive, good movement, smart ball handling, good attitude and better situational awareness.

These characteristics will help eliminate the mistakes made last year and give the team a better offensive game. The team has already begun to show promise.

“Their shooting is good… the best it has looked in a couple of years,” said Druker, who is confident the team can make it to the state playoffs.

Team captain Maddie Ginder and other returning seniors will play a key role in helping the team develop. With so many young players, the Spartans will have to work hard to compete with older teams, Druker said.

This year’s team has seven returning seniors – Ginder, Melissa Hoshizaki Hallie Swan Devon Denis, Shea Kenyon, Haley Baker and Anastasia Tschida.

Druker said Ginder is an excellent weapon because she can take charge and finish, adding that Swan is the glue that connects the team.

“When she is in the game, things tend to flow better,” he said. Denis is returning for an impressive fourth year in goal.

Along with the seniors, the team has two players – Haley Story and Sarah Berschinski – who are the first freshmen to make the team in several years. Despite their young ages, Druker said the freshmen showed a great deal of promise during tryouts.

He has been pleasantly surprised at times by the skill of all his players. Right now the team is working on improving its defense and being more aggressive offensively.

These two problems plagued last year’s team throughout the season, and Druker is looking for more defensive play that will allow the midfield and forwards to push up and be aggressive.

Last year’s team had trouble with positioning in a zone defense that caused them to bunch up. This affects passing and pulls forwards back.

Druker said a stable defense and fast, aggressive offense will be important in the Spartans’ first game against Central Kitsap on Sept. 10 at BHS.

Druker said teams from Central Kitsap are always tough because they have a very physical style of play.

Despite this, Druker believes the girls will be a match for any of the other teams in the league.