Highline used some good saves from their keeper, Brianna Lemarr, to go along with always-there scoring and the powerful presence of striker Kaitlyn Heinsohn to beat West Seattle, 3-0, at Highline Memorial Thursday.

It was a close game actually. The first half was pretty even in shots on goal 11-7, favoring the Pirates. And, self-admittedly, if not for a couple lucky bobbles of play favoring Heinsohn, her goal she scored may not have happened. That would have made it 1-0 instead of 2-0 at halftime. And while we are on the same thought, the second goal scorer's shot was from some 30 yards out and was perfectly placed into the upper vee from that distance or it does not go in, either.

So the first half was really closer than the 2-0 score indicator and also Lemarr made a brilliant hand save while diving to tip the ball just enough to go over her and sail and clank off the crossbar where the defense cleared the ball.

So, what did the coach of Highline, Jeb Binns have to say?

"That was the best second half I've seen in four halves so far," said Binns.

But the first half was played on mostly West Seattle's end before Heinsohn advantaged a breakaway and dribbled the ball back and forth until she lost the ball in the six-yard box. The ball was kicked away but hit off the ankle of a defender and went right back to Heinsohn. Boom! The Seamount League's leading goal scorer last year (28) would not miss that point-blank shot.

"I dribbled through some players and then a defender kicked it from my path but it bounced back to me," said Heinsohn, pausing. "I was kind of lucky to get it back."

But she did and it was 1-0, Pirates, with only eight minutes off the first half clock.

Next was a couple West Seattle shots on goal but Lemarr saved them both, including that beauty of a hand save that caromed off the crossbar at the 21 minute point left of the first half.

"Brianna, she played phenomenal," said Binns.

The second Highline score came 10 minutes after Lemarr's save to give good momentum to her team in a game that was 50 percent ball possession for each team up to that point. Kayci Donatelli scored it, sending the ball from 35 yards out over the outstretched arms of the West Seattle goalie.

Right after that, West Seattle had an opportunity in the final couple minutes of the first half, but the striker had an open player going into the 18-yard box, but her square-ball pass was hit a little too hard and went by her teammate as Lemarr came out, perhaps fearfully on that play.

So the Pirates went into the locker room up 2-0 at halftime and the only goal left to be scored in the second half was Heinsohn again. This time with 17 and a half minutes left on the clock, Heinsohn dribbled into the middle and was tripped after the ball was dribbled by her foes, perhaps too far, but the blatant call instigated the ref to blow his whistle.

Heinsohn scored the penalty kick.

"The defense did great, I think Alannah Anderson our freshman in the back did great," Said Binns. "Defense cleared the ball out , they were able to do what was our game plan, moving it from danger."