After falling behind 6-4 at halftime against Auburn Mountainview May 4, the Ballard High School lacrosse team was able to hold on for an important 11-11 tie and a shot at the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Coach Lise Martin said she is satisfied with the tie in a match that could easily have been playoff-killing loss. Toward the end of the match, she said she realized it was becoming too risky to play to win the game, so the Beavers made the decision to hold onto the ball and eat up time to ensure the tie.

Maddie Soukup led Ballard with three goals. Jayne Barnes, Haley Jackson and Sophie Mora finished with two goals each.

Goalie Hannah Breton had eight saves.

The tie puts Ballard at 5-4-1 for the season.

As meaningful as a playoff appearance would be to the second-year program, Martin said it would be even more meaningful to the Ballard players.

She said the players set the goal of making the playoffs, and achieving that goal has been extremely important to them.

"The team has made sacrifices to be in this position," Martin said. "I am glad they will be recognized for it."

The Beavers' final regular season match – 5:30 p.m. on May 6 at Magnuson Park – will determine if the team realizes its playoff dream.

Ballard is playing Holy Names, a team with a 1-9 record, but Martin said anything can happen, and the team is still going to need to work hard to get the win.

If the Beavers win, they make the playoffs. The tie against Auburn Mountainview means they will likely be a sixth seed instead of a seventh or eighth seed. If they lose, their quest for the playoffs is over.