Lassen Youth Soccer's U-19 boys' team is competing in a March Madness of its own, advancing to the Final Four of the Northern California Youth Soccer Association State Cup Saturday-Sunday, March 24-25 in Sacramento. In Morgan Hill last Saturday, Lassen battled windy conditions to defeat the Solano Rangers 3-0, earning a spot in Sunday's four-team tournament. Dillon Moore, Jouni Kinnunen and Mike Dwinell netted goals.

In regional competition on March 10 and 11 in Redding, Lassen downed the Fremont Rangers 4-3 and tied Rockridge of Oakland 3-3.

Dwinell, who is attending Azusa Pacific on soccer scholarship, led the way against Fremont with a hat trick. Kinnunen added a goal.

"Fremont was very skillful and poised, and kept our defense busy," Lassen head coach Al Garcia said. "Pete (Datema) made some crucial saves to hold down the win for us."

Dwinell racked up another hat trick against Rockridge. He scored on a penalty and direct kick, and was set up on a pass from Laben Banks. Datema secured the tie with a leaping save, deflecting a shot over the cross bar with less than two minutes remaining.

Garcia praised the play of defenders Mike Keating, Mike Nielson, Justin Hardaway, Daniel Nareau, and midfielders Scott Gill, Matt Hamlet, Johan Kampfraat, David Hink and Clinton Roberts.