QUEENSBURY — Fre Breen took a long shot that sailed over the net in the first half Saturday.

In the second half, the Waterford-Halfmoon midfielder decided to try it again.

This one went over the fingertips of Northern Adirondack goalkeeper Gabe Hynes and just under the crossbar for a 3-2 lead.

The Fordians went on to a 4-2 win over the Bobcats in a NYSPHSAA Class C boys' soccer quarterfinal at Queensbury High School.

Breen, a sophomore who emigrated from Ethiopia almost three years ago, finished with two goals.

"The first half I tried it over (at the other end)," Breen said of his 30-yard laser. "I tried the same thing. I couldn't do it. It was too high. So I think to myself, 'I will try it again.' So I keep trying it, and finally I got it in.

"I knew that was a good shot. I would be a little bit upset if I missed that. But it got in. I am happy."

His other reason to be happy: the Fordians (19-2) earned a trip to the Class C final four next weekend.

While Waterford-Halfmoon had to beat Norwood-Norfolk earlier this week to reach Saturday's game, Northern Adirondack won the Section VII Class C title Nov. 4 and had a bye into the quarterfinals.

"I think we could have played a little bit better if we had some games under our belt, but we did all right," Northern Adirondack coach Pete Kowalowski said.

The Bobcats (12-5) trailed 2-1 at halftime but tied it up 11:09 into the second half. Waterford-Halfmoon keeper Ryan Hardy made the initial save, but during the scramble afterward, Spencer Ferguson put the ball in the net.

"They took it to us the last 20 minutes of the first half," Kowalowski said. "And the second half we came out, and it was more in the middle of the field. Then we tied it. We got a little bit of life."

But the Fordians pulled back ahead on Breen's goal less than three minutes later. Garrett Archambeault put it away with a shot from the left side that found the opposite corner at 34:03.

Hynes made 14 saves for Northern Adirondack in his first game in goal. After Tyler Mesec injured his shoulder late in the regular season, Kowalowski tried several players in net. He said he went with Hynes Saturday because he wanted a veteran back there, even though that meant the Bobcats missed the senior in the midfield.

Hynes made a diving save in the first half to keep Northern Adirondack ahead and then quickly made two more stops. He hit the ground again for a nice save in the second half.

"Our keeper did a great job," Kowalowski said. "He made some great stops there, point-blank. He's very athletic and he's very quick."

The Bobcats went in front just 5:48 into the game. Tyler LaValley took a good feed from Stephen Trudo, and when Hardy came out, LaValley beat him to the left.

After the goal, Waterford-Halfmoon took the play into the other end and sustained pressure. Breen got away from everybody and slipped the ball past Hynes at 23:36, and eight minutes later, Dylan Carlton made it 2-1.

Breen leads the team with 16 goals.

"I knew (Breen) was quick, but you appreciate that quickness when you see it better," Kowalowski said. "Because he's very slick. He's skilled and fast. He makes things happen. And we put one of our quickest defenders on him."

—

Waterford-Halfmoon 4,

Northern Adirondack 2

Northern Adirondack11—2

Waterford-Halfmoon22—4

First half- 1, NAC, T. LaValley (Trudo), 5:48. 2, WH, Breen, 23:36. 3, WH, Carlton (Lee), 31:31.

Second half- 4, NAC, Ferguson, 11:09. 5, WH, Breen, 14:04. 6, WH, Archambeault, 34:03.

Shots- Northern Adirondack 4; Waterford-Halfmoon 18.

Saves- Hynes, NAC, 14. Hardy, WH, 2.

E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com