Junior Maddie Soukup gave the Ballard High School lacrosse team a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the second-year program's first playoff appearance, May 11 against Overlake High School.

Despite that quick score, a slow overall start doomed the Beavers. During the next 12 minutes, Overlake outscored Ballard 11-0 as it cut through the Beaver defense and kept Ballard from coming anywhere near its net.

Coach Lise Martin said she tried to tell her young team that they had already exceeded expectations and to just go out and have fun. But once the players took the field, postseason nerves worked to inhibit their stick skills, she said.

Martin said Ballard struggled to make passes and come up with ground balls while Overlake was making quick transitions with excellent stick skills and tiring out the Beaver defense.

Three quick goals from junior Jayne Barnes and a goal from sophomore Katie Kennedy late in the first half stopped the bleeding, but Ballard was down 16-5 at halftime.

The Beavers stepped up and evened things out in the second half, but they could not overcome their slow first half and a 39 to 17 shot differential favoring Overlake and were bounced from the playoffs 21-9.

Soukup and Barnes led Ballard with four goals each. Sophomore goalie Hannah Breton had 18 saves.

Despite the loss, Soukup said she feels amazing about the season. In one year, the Beavers went from winning two games to playing in the postseason as a sixth seed, she said.

"Everyone felt really positive about the entire season," Martin said. "We had a couple hard losses right at the beginning of the season and then came back to have a rewarding season. The team grew tremendously this season in skill level, maturity, athleticism and in teamwork."

Soukup said the team, which has no graduating seniors, is excited for next season and is looking to go farther into the postseason.

Martin said if Ballard wants to accomplish that goal, the players will need to be committed to working on their stick skills and fitness during the offseason. But, the team has a good chance to build on this season, she said.

"Ballard's greatest strength is character," Martin said. "The team has outstanding young women on it that create such a positive and healthy environment. I think if that spirit continues, they will be successful."

After two years as Ballard's head coach, Martin will not be returning next season. Soukup said she knows Ballard will get a good coach to replace Martin, and Martin will be cheering the Beavers on next year.

The Ballard High School lacrosse team finished the season with a 6-5-1 record.