Ballard FC is heading into the USL League Two playoffs with momentum after defeating Snohomish United 4-0 Sunday to secure its fourth consecutive Northwest Division championship.
The two clubs entered the regular-season finale tied atop the standings, with Snohomish holding the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating Ballard earlier this season. Ballard needed a win to claim the division title and delivered four second-half goals at Interbay Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, Ballard broke through in the 48th minute when goalkeeper Noah Newman quickly launched a counterattack after collecting a corner kick. His pass found Zach Ramsey, who carried the ball the length of the field before crossing to Emmett Layman for the opening goal.
Ballard doubled its lead in the 58th minute after Luke Hammond intercepted a clearance and combined with Anton Hjalmarsson and Joschi Schelb before finishing the move.
Hjalmarsson added the third goal in the 71st minute after regaining possession following a blocked pass and scoring through traffic.
Schelb completed the scoring in the 88th minute, finishing a cross from Michael Divano to seal the 4-0 victory.
Hammond was named player of the match.
The victory capped Ballard’s best regular season in club history. The team finished 12-1-1, went undefeated at home with a 7-0 record, and claimed its fourth straight Northwest Division title. Ballard also enters the postseason on an eight-match winning streak with three consecutive shutouts, having scored 18 unanswered goals during that stretch.
Playoffs come to Interbay
Ballard’s postseason begins Friday, July 17, when Interbay Stadium hosts the first two rounds of the USL League Two Western Conference playoffs.
Four teams will compete at Interbay, beginning with a 2 p.m. quarterfinal between Colorado Storm SC and Snohomish United. Ballard will then face Utah United at 7 p.m.
The winners will meet in the Western Conference semifinal at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, also at Interbay Stadium.
Ballard is making its fifth consecutive USL League Two playoff appearance after qualifying every season since its inaugural campaign in 2022. The club has hosted the opening rounds of the playoffs each year and enters this postseason with an 8-1 playoff record at Interbay. Ballard reached the USL League Two national championship match in 2025.
Ballard opens against Utah United
Ballard’s first-round opponent, Utah United, finished second in the Mountain Division with an 8-1-3 record. After losing its season opener to Colorado Storm SC, Utah put together an 11-match unbeaten streak to earn its second consecutive playoff appearance. The club is seeking its first postseason victory.
Ballard will enter the playoffs without five University of Washington players who have left to compete in Peru for the remainder of the summer: Zach Ramsey, Stockton Short, Cameron Cruz, Emmett Layman and Jordy Dierks. Goalkeeper Noah Newman remains with the club for the postseason.
The Bridges will continue to lean on leading scorer Anton Hjalmarsson, who finished the regular season with seven goals, along with Joschi Schelb, who has recorded three goals and four assists in three starts since joining the club.
If Ballard advances Friday, it will face the winner of the Colorado Storm SC and Snohomish United match in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal. The Western Conference champion advances to the conference final on July 24, followed by the national semifinals on July 26 and the USL League Two championship match on Aug. 1.
Championship weekend continues with Salmon Bay FC
Interbay Stadium will also host the USL W League National Final this weekend, with Salmon Bay FC set to face Vermont Green FC on Saturday, July 18.
Salmon Bay earned its place in the championship match after defeating Minnesota Aurora in a penalty shootout Sunday. The national semifinal finished 1-1 after extra time before Salmon Bay advanced on penalties, ending Minnesota’s previously unbeaten season.
The championship match will kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday. It marks the first time Salmon Bay FC has reached the USL W League National Final and allows the club to compete for the league title on its home field.
The weekend schedule at Interbay Stadium includes Ballard FC’s Western Conference quarterfinal against Utah United at 7 p.m. Friday, the USL W League National Final between Salmon Bay FC and Vermont Green FC at 5 p.m. Saturday, and the USL League Two Western Conference semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, featuring the winners of Friday’s quarterfinal matches.
Photo: Ballard FC