Humble hopes marked the start of the Bainbridge girls varsity soccer season this year.

No overly ambitious goals or starry-eyed dreams of State for these Spartans. Instead, there’s a down-to-earth awareness that any success to be had this year will be forged from fire.

Indeed, the Spartans’ Metro League opponents have already brought the heat, with Bainbridge still stirring the embers, looking to spark their first win.

And it’s a team with a roster that’s been largely untested at the varsity level.

“We’ve got a lot of young players,” said Spartan Coach Scott Druker. Turnout numbers were a bit lower this year, and the returners and starters from last season’s squad can be counted on one hand.

The challenges are clear, to be sure.

“It will be slow to start — in the sense of developing my system with some of these players and getting what I’m looking for — so that’s kind of what we’re struggling with now,” Druker said.

Still, the young team was able to battle two of their first three opponents (Auburn Riverside and Central Kitsap) to ties.

Druker said the opener against the Ravens of Auburn Riverside was a good first glance at the team.

“The first game was better than I expected,” he said. “I was proud of the way that we were able to move the ball. As far as the general structure of how the game went, I was fairly pleased.”

The season’s first loss came against Garfield, where the Spartans were blanked by the Bulldogs 2-0.

“I think it was just one of those little wakeup calls, where we didn’t play right off the whistle,” he said.

Offense has proven elusive so far this season, with just one goal so far, in that 1-1 draw against Central Kitsap.

“I think defensively we’re fairly sound,” the coach said, but he added that the Spartans need to continue to work on creating opportunities to score.

That work on the offensive side of the ball will continue in the weeks ahead. And there’s a foundation to build on, Druker noted, as well as strong team chemistry.

“The team is very coachable. They enjoy playing; they want to do well. They get along well, so there’s a lot of team camaraderie.”

Catherine Carley, one of just two seniors on the squad, is expected to help the Spartans’ scoring opportunities.

And fellow senior Ellie Van Slyke has stepped into a crucial role as the captain for the team.

“She’s one of the most positive players I’ve ever had,” Druker said.

Van Slyke has been a motivating force for her teammates, as well as a good role model, he said.

That work ethic, and sense of encouragement, tops the list of leadership attributes for Druker.

“Those two things are at top of my list as far as leadership, and she’s got it,” he said.

Julia Footh, Allie Berry, Kate Mackin, Lauren Quesada, Fayth Campbell-Martin, Haley Morris, Lindsay Franznick, Noelle Lipshutz, Delaney Wiggins, Meghan Ginder, Caroline Ketcheside, Sara Irvin, Lillian Aduddell, Svetlana Maguire and Marlie Keasler fill out the roster.

Druker and his captain are quick to spread the praise.

“The work ethic and communication — and just positive attitudes — are really awesome,” Van Slyke said of her fellow Spartan teammates.

Van Slyke, who was also captain of her junior varsity team before she joined varsity last year, said she’s been impressed with the commitment already shown by her teammates.

“We all work well together even though we’re really young. Our communication is pretty solid, considering,” she said. “Everybody’s working hard out there.”

The Spartans’ size and speed are things that will have to be overcome in the Metro League, Van Slyke noted.

“Size wise, we will be one of the smallest if not the smallest out there,” she said. “Speed; we’re a little slow up top.”

On the upside: the Spartans’ abilities on the other side of the ball.

“Our defense is crazy solid,” Van Slyke said. “Offensively, we just need to get more shots off.”

The Spartans are heading into what’s arguably the toughest stretch of their schedule.

Seattle Prep will be the team to beat, with the Spartans meeting the Panthers on the road Oct. 6, and it’s not a contest they expect to win.

“I think we all know to take that game as a learning experience,” Van Slyke said.

Before that, there’s a home match against Bishop Blanchet on Oct. 4.

“Blanchet, for some reason, has always been a thorn in our side, so that will be a bit of an issue,” Druker noted.

Following the matchup with Prep, the Spartans will host Lakeside on Oct. 11.

This season, the Spartans’ main aim is to improve with each game.

“My goal — it’s probably a cliché — is every game we’re going to get better,” Druker said.

“Every game, I want us to progress; a little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more.

“By the end of the season, hopefully we’ll be able to make some noise. And if it happens, it happens.”

“We’re still going to compete — and we’re going to make it hard for people to beat us,” Druker said.