BOBCATS TO PLAY FOR STATE SOCCER TITLE SATURDAY

The Freeman Academy soccer team is now one win away from what would be the school’s first-ever South Dakota High School Activities Association-sanctioned state championship.

The third-seed Bobcats will play top-seeded James Valley Christian for the Class A title Saturday, Oct. 18 after upsetting second-seed Vermillion 3-1 in Vermillion Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11. The match will be played at Sioux Park Stadium in Rapid City beginning at 11 a.m. Central Time.

Freeman Academy handed James Valley (13-1-0) its only loss of the season 2-1 on Sept. 16.

The Bobcat’s win over Vermillion — the defending state champion — came less than two weeks after the Tanagers defeated the Bobcats 3-1. Saturday’s game was knotted at 1-1 at the half, but FA surged ahead after goalkeeper Ben Clark stopped a penalty kick midway through the second period, and the Bobcats scored twice thereafter to secure the win.

FA’s goals came from Lesther Artica Rocha, assisted by Elmer Rodolfo; Rocha, assisted by Persie Avila; and Avila, assisted by Derek Escobar.

The Bobcats go into the state championship match 11-3-2.

Vermillion ends its season 8-3-0.

BOBCATS SQUEAK OUT 1-0 WIN OVER WEST CENTRAL

A goal by Lesther Rocha with less than 4 minutes to play broke a 0-0 stalemate and gave No. 3 Freeman Academy (10-3-2) a nail-biting 1-0 win over No. 6 West Central (5-8-1) in the quarterfinal of the Class A soccer playoffs in Freeman Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The Bobcats now move on to semifinals against Vermillion (8-2) Saturday, Sept. 11 in Vermillion. The Tanagers are the No. 2 seed and defeated No. 7 St. Thomas More (3-9-1) 2-1 on Tuesday.

Vermillion defeated Freeman Academy 3-1 on Oct. 2.

In other action Tuesday night, Freeman (14-7) defeated Bon Homme (9-8) 3-1 on the volleyball court while Menno (1-20) lost to Canistota (7-15) 3-1.

Set scores were in favor of Freeman 25-18, 11-25, 25-23, 25-23 and against the Wolves 25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-12.