Bainbridge looks to challenge in Metro League soccer | FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Published 12:38 pm Friday, September 7, 2012

The defense is certainly solid.

The offense?

Well, it may not be that big of a question mark after all.

Spartan Coach Scott Druker said he has no doubt that his Bainbridge girls soccer team will make the playoffs.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t make the post-season,” the six-year varsity coach said.

He added a quick caveat, though.

“Once we get to there, everything in the Metro is challenging.

“With the post-season, I mean, you’re one-and-done, so you never know.

But we should be there, and we’ll see what happens,” Druker said.

The Spartans will have to do without soccer standout Emma Vukic this year; the All-Metro League Mountain Division first teamer and lead scorer for the Spartans was lost to graduation.

“She scored a lot of goals — very pivotal player. Someone’s going to have to step up and replace her,” Druker said.

“So we’ll see. That’s kind of the one I’m really scared of,” he said.

Tryouts for the team were a little lighter in numbers than last year, but promising still. About 15 new freshman came out.

“It was a good freshman group,” he said, “a lot of young kids looking to play, so that’s good.”

On defense, good news also abounds.

Everyone starting on defense is a returning player.

“So we definitely have some veteran-ship there,” Druker said.

“My big focus: I really want to cut down on the amount of goals scored on us,” the coach said, noting the team’s trouble in finishing off opponents in recent years.

“We lost a few games last year that we were up … it was probably about three or four that shouldn’t have happened. To go from winning to losing, not even tie,” he said, his voice trailing off.

The Spartans will look to Haley Story (defense) and Sarah Berschinski (midfield), both seniors, for leadership.

“I think Haley will definitely be the vocal leader and performance leader,” Druker said.

Team practice began Aug. 20, and the Spartans opened the season this week on the road against Chief Sealth.

The Spartans clipped the Seahawks 10-0 Tuesday in Seattle.

Next week, Bainbridge plays three matches, with two on the road.

The Spartans will play Monday, Sept. 10 at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, followed by a home match Tuesday, Sept. 11 against Nathan Hale.

Bainbridge will close out the week by facing Holy Names Academy on Thursday, Sept. 13 in Seattle.

The Metro League will once again be competitive, Druker said.

“In the Metro League, I think anybody can beat anybody. That’s the way it’s been,” he said.

That said, he said he was keeping an eye on Lakeside.

“They’ve got a lot of people returning. They are kind of on my back wire,” he said.

The Spartans play their first game at home Saturday, against Garfield. The match starts at 7 p.m.