USYSA, widely considered the most competitive youth soccer league in the nation, has produced U.S. National team and college players.

Boys and girls from California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawai'i, in divisions from under-12 to under-19, participated in the Far West Regionals.

Forward Duke Hashimoto, who will be a junior at Southern Methodist, made his shot as the final penalty kick shooter to give the Bulls the edge, 4-3, in the penalty kicks phase.

"There's no other player that I would want more in that place at that time," Bulls coach Phil Neddo said. "I turned to (assistant coach) Michael Guidry and told him we were going to nationals when Duke was putting his ball down (to take the kick)."

Hashimoto said: "My shot came up and I knew if I put it in we would win, so I didn't really have any thoughts in mind, just about putting it in."

Satoshi Mitsuda, Justin Kim and Matt Fisher also made their penalty kicks, and goalkeeper David Semenza made one save.

Fisher scored in the second half for the Bulls, on an assist from Brandon Tario on a set play, tying the score at 1. Irvine scored its goal in the first half.

"We started off pretty shaky," Neddo said. "As the game went on, they got more and more into it. To be fair, I'm disappointed we didn't take it in regulation."

Irvine eliminated the Bulls in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks last year.

"We expected to be in this game, we expected to play this team," Neddo said. "In a lot of ways, it was a dog fight."

The under-13 girls team Ho'okalakupua, the only other Hawai'i team playing in the finals, made it for the second straight year, but lost to San Diego Surf White, 1-0.

"I think we're getting there, the state itself is getting better players, better teams, and getting closer to winning championships," Hashimoto said.