ROCKPORT – The Maine Central Institute boys soccer team has endured some testing defeats this year.

So when host Camden Hills crept within a goal late in their Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal Saturday at Don Palmer Field, the ghosts of frustrations past could have re-emerged in the Huskies’ minds.

They needn’t have worried.

MCI answered that threat with a goal by Josh Glidden just 24 seconds later and knocked off the Windjammers 3-1.

“We’ve had some heartbreaking losses,” said MCI coach Scott Varney, “but what I’ve told the kids is that we have to come out and play for 80 minutes, they can’t just play 60 minutes and expect to win. You’ve got to come out and play hard, and we did that today after they scored.”

The win means the No. 6 Huskies of Pittsfield will host No. 7 John Bapst of Bangor in a semifinal Wednesday at Pittsfield. No. 3 Camden Hills finishes 10-4-1.

MCI (10-5) held a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by senior Mark Trombley, one a 30-yard direct kick midway through the first half and the second a penalty kick with 21:30 left in the match.

But Camden Hills (10-4-1) finally countered with 7:28 left as Noah Burke headed in a crossing pass from Corey McLean.

MCI, which relinquished a 2-1 lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Windjammers during the regular season, responded immediately. Owen Campbell beat a defender along the right wing and rifled a shot off the bottom of the cross bar right to Glidden, who headed the ball into the open net for the pivotal insurance goal.

“I thought we had them boxed in down the wing,” said Camden Hills coach Michael Grey, “but the guy made a nice move and hit a blistering shot that hit underneath the cross bar. What are you going to do? The soccer gods were not on our side, they wanted MCI to advance.”

MCI finished with a 17-14 edge in shots, with goalies Tristan Goewey of MCI and James Cummons of Camden Hills each making eight saves. Only Trombley’s first goal separated the teams after an evenly played first half.

A tripping called earned MCI the direct kick, and Dustin Varney stepped over the ball before Trombley curled a soft shot just over a wall of Camden Hills defenders. The ball bounced before it reached the goal mouth, and caromed off to the side as Cummons slipped while reaching for the ball.

“I look at the goal and then the ball and I try to bend it over the wall every time,” Trombley said. “I just try to bend it right over the wall so they can’t get it. It might give the keeper the impression of a flick, and that’s my goal.”

“Anytime you can get the ball to bounce right in front of the keeper and the keeper’s going down to get it, it can take a funny bounce,” added Grey. “James thought he had it, but it went in.”

MCI midfielders Trevin Ming, Campbell, Glidden and Mark Neace stepped up after intermission, while stopper Andrew deBethune marked effectively against Camden Hills striker Miles Davee.

“Our midfielders got more involved in the offense in the second half, and that paid off toward the end,” said Varney. “They’re a very good team, and we knew coming in that they were going to be explosive so we had to come out and play our game today.”

Trombley scored on a penalty kick after some hustle by teammate Brandon Glencross resulted in a tripping call against Camden Hills. Trombley shot the ball low and to the right of Cummons to give the Huskies their first two-goal advantage.