After missing out on the state championship game during the last two years, the Bainbridge boys’ lacrosse team wants nothing less than an appearance in that title bout May 28 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.

They have gotten off to a good start with three wins in their first three games, beginning with a 15-8 win over Lake Washington March 11; a 27-4 win over Lake Tapps March 16; and a 24-3 win over Tahoma March 18.

Alexander Rabin was selected as the U.S. Lacrosse Player of the Week for his efforts in the two wins against Lake Tapps and Tahoma with 14 goals, one assist and four ground balls.

Alongside Rabin, fellow returners and seniors Cameron Parker, Alex Crane, Quinn McMahon, Jacob Goodman, Henry Deery-Schmitt, Nick Lacy, Max Skotheim, Ryder Goodlin and  Julian Skotheim-Hillis are eager to get the Spartans back on top of the high school lacrosse mountain.

Parker and Crane were selected to the preseason all-state first team as an attacker and midfielder, respectively, while McMahon was a second-team selection at defender. Goodman and Lacy were named to the third team as a midfielder and a defender, respectively.

Head coach Jack Visco said the returners bring a wealth of experience and speed to the field.

“They’re motivated,” he said. “They’ve been working hard since January with conditioning. It makes it easier on day one” to get things done.

The team loses just three players from last year’s team – defender Alex Johnson, attacker Jordan Wagner and co-head coach Dejon Hush, who is now the head coach at Lake Washington.

“Anytime you lose a coach as good as Coach Hush, there’s always going to be a difference,” Crane said. “It would be a lot harder if we didn’t have so many kids with so much experience.”

Crane said another positive is being able to distribute the ball to ensure a well-rounded scoring attack.

Skotheim-Hillis, who started in goal last season, said he and fellow defenders McMahon, Lacy and Goodlin are working hard to force more turnovers and keep opposing offenses off balance.

Though there are more teams than ever playing lacrosse this season, Parker said their effort and knowledge will be the difference.

“At every practice we have to give it our all and want to come out and get better every day,” he said. “It’s going to be all the guys who played last year who have to take control of the game.”