Highland High’s Tori Rinsem didn’t remember exactly how she got the ball, but she’ll never forget what she did with it in the final seconds of Saturday’s match. 

With about 15 seconds remaining in the second 10-minute overtime period of the Division I girls state soccer championship, Rinsem dribbled by defenders before passing it off to Brianna Hatch, Highland’s top player. Hatch took care of the rest, shooting high to the far post from the right side of the field and past Desert Vista’s goalkeeper for the lone goal in the match.

Nine seconds remained the final overtime period when Hatch connected, but the clock had struck 12 for Desert Vista.

“Big players finish in big stages such as this,” said Highland coach Andy Barber about Hatch’s state championship game winner Saturday at Campo Verde.

The game seemed destined for penalty kicks instead of a 1-0 victory for Highland. But Highland delivered a brilliant shot to take down Desert Vista and its vaunted defense, which allowed only five goals in 23 matches this season.

“That was a perfect end to a perfect season,” said Rinsem, who finished with a team-high 16 assists this season.

“It’s unbelievable,” Hatch said. “With nine seconds left on the clock. That’s just insane. It’s a dream. It’s the last thing I do before I go to college.”

Hatch will join her sister, Ashley, at BYU to continue playing soccer.

The two will have plenty to talk about when they meet again. Breaking through Desert Vista’s 4-man backline and goalkeeper/captain Alexa Ryder proved difficult for most teams throughout the season.

But Highland’s defense also was up to the task, limiting Desert Vista to just eight shots. The tempo was in favor of Desert Vista in the first half, but Highland coach Andy Barber instructed his team to pick up the pace and his team did so in the second half, when Desert Vista attempted its first eight shots in regulation.

Highland (24-2-1) continued to add pressure toward the end of the second half and overtime with free kicks that got to the 6-yard box, but Desert Vista was able to defend those scoring chances except for the one at the end.

“No one was giving up at all,” Barber said. “We kept pushing the pace.

“The assist on the pass to Brianna was just as good as the goal.”