HURON – The James Valley Vikings scored first but had to keep up the offensive attack in order to earn a spot in the State “A” Soccer Championship Game next weekend in Yankton, defeating the Freeman Academy Bobcats 4-3 Saturday at JVC.

Noah Fast scored a goal six minutes in on an assist by Gavin Waldner to open the scoring, but the Bobcats answered back five minutes later on a goal by Lesther Artica Rocha.

Waldner sliced through the Bobcat defense for a breakaway goal at the 37-minute mark to give JVC a 2-1 lead heading into half.

Within a minute of the start of the second half, Waldner hit Isaac Fast with a pass that Fast then put into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead. Waldner would score on a free kick four minutes later to give the Vikings a 4-1 lead.

That’s when the Bobcats took over the momentum, as Emma Tuschen scored on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute and Rocha scored again in the 66th minute.

Each team took 19 shots in the game. JVC goaltender Jonah Niederbaumer had six saves and was matched by six saves by his Bobcat counterpart Simon Weirsma.

Viking coach Jory Wipf reached his 200th coaching victory with the win, which moves the Vikings to 12-4.

Freeman Academy finishes the season at 8-4-3.

JVC will travel to Yankton to play top-ranked Vermillion in the championship game Saturday at Crane Youngworth Stadium at 7 p.m.