The Cranston West boys’ soccer team didn’t celebrate Monday’s Senior Night with a victory. But the Falcons’ 0-0 draw with Lincoln was better than the alternative.

A loss would have almost completely dashed West’s playoff hopes. The tie kept them alive for the moment, with Wednesday’s season finale against Coventry and other games around the state determining West’s fate.

“On Senior Night, to not lose, we’ll take that,” said West head coach Jared Zimmer. “If we had lost, that would have probably put us out of the playoffs, and that would have been a tough Senior Night. Wednesday, we’ll see what happens.”

Monday’s result put the Falcons at 3-8-4. They’re mired in an eight-match winless streak, though they’ve tied three games in that stretch. Their last win was on Sept. 23 against Narragansett.

The latest part of the streak had the Falcons getting shut-out in three consecutive league games. In two of them – against playoff teams Toll Gate and Westerly – the Falcons lost by just 1-0 scores.

Monday’s game could have trended in that direction, but the West defense and goalie James Vartanian kept Lincoln off the board. The Lions are 3-7-5 and one point ahead of West in the Division II standings.

“It was hard-fought,” Zimmer said. “We had a lot of chances in the game. There are ties that feel like a loss and ties that feel like a win. This was a good one.”

Vartanian made 14 saves for West, while Lincoln’s Myer Hussain made 10 saves. The Lions had a few more quality opportunities than the Falcons – including a penalty kick in the second half that went wide – but West held on for the tie.

Its defensive unit looks a lot different than it did a few weeks ago, with senior Marc Vierra out with an injury and senior sweeper Hagop Taraksian moving to the midfield. Led by Joulien Martinelli, Javier Nunez, Christian McDade and Trent Colford, the Falcons still held strong.

“The defense played very well,” Zimmer said. “We’ve had to cope with some injuries, but the defense still played well, even though we didn’t have our normal continuity.”

Lincoln thought it had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half when a Vartanian knocked away a free kick and Michael Brown knocked in the rebound. But Brown was called offsides, wiping out the goal. Later in the half, Lincoln’s Ben Howard hit the post on a breakaway shot.

Early in the second half, it was West’s turn for a near-miss. Taraksian slipped a pass to the left corner for Paul Minassian, who lofted a perfect cross into the middle of the box. Nick Pagano was there, but his volley sailed over the cross-bar.

“Our finishing problems are still happening,” Zimmer said. “We had our chance in the beginning of the second half on a great cross and we just didn’t finish it.”

In the 50th minute, Howard got loose for a shot in the box, but Vartanian saved it and then saved the rebound. Eight minutes later, a Lincoln header off a free kick hit the post.

In the 62nd minute, Lincoln got its penalty kick when Howard was fouled in the box. David Jessey took the kick and pushed it just wide of the left post, keeping things scoreless.

West played two free kicks into the box in the final 10 minutes but came up empty.

“That perfect touch was eluding us today,” Zimmer said. “That’s been our issue all season.”

After the game, the Falcons celebrated their 10 seniors.

“These seniors have been great,” Zimmer said. “The seniors and all the kids have worked really hard this year.”

The Falcons hope there’s a playoff reward at the end. Twelve teams make the playoffs. As of Monday’s action, Lincoln owns the 12th and final spot, with West and Prout both just a point back.

“Hopefully the attitude and the spirit continues against Coventry on Wednesday,” Zimmer said.