Wednesday night played out much like the rest of the postseason for the Potter’s House Pumas (Wyoming). The senior-laden squad has rode suffocating defense and constant offensive pressure through each round and against a gauntlet of some of the state’s top teams in division 4.

The pumas contest against Black River (Holland) was no exception as the two squared off at Pat Patterson Stadium in Kentwood, MI to decide which would be traveling to Novi this Saturday in hopes of earning a state championship.

Things seemed firmly in control for the pumas from the outset and the #6 ranked team was able to maintain ball control in the Black River zone most of the game. As a low scoring affair, soccer can swing for an underdog on a single play and Black River was not without opportunities of their own.

The River Rats were able to sneak the ball deep into puma territory, past an excellent back line, before being stifled on each shot by Potter’s House standout goalie, Seth Hoeksema.

Hoeksema and the puma defenders posted their second shutout of the postseason and in as many weeks.

While the Potter’s House defense took care of their end, it was time for the attackers to handle things on the other.

Puma senior and Michigan State commit, Jonathan Stout, made several incredible runs, often weaving in and out of wave after wave of Black River a laser-focused defense, but came up short on each attempt. A series of deflected or mishandled passes, Black River tackles and missed shots left things tied at 0-0.

That is until Stout pushed things into a higher gear.

Like a chef, sweetening the seasoning of a fine dish, Stout had trialed his big move several times in the first half. As the teams entered the final stretch in the first forty minutes, Stout once again sliced and diced his way through the defense and took a quality strike from centerfield, burned it past the River Rat goalie and buried the ball in the back of the net. Pumas 1 – River Rats 0.

That is how things would stand the rest of the night and the Pumas advance to yet another round of new territory, this time in the state championship game.

Potter’s House will face Clarkston Everest Collegiate this Saturday at 3pm at Novi High School for a chance to bring home the pumas first state championship in any sport.