The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers advanced to the Mason-Dixon Christian Conference boys soccer championship game by taking a hard-earned 3-0 victory over Heritage Academy Thursday in the MDCC semifinals.

The top-seeded Blazers (17-4) will square off against second-seeded Calvary Christian in the finals Saturday at 7 p.m. at North Hagerstown High School.

“We reach the finals after an 18-year hiatus,” said CVCS coach Stan Hott, whose team recorded its 11^th shutout of the season.

The Blazers grabbed a 1-0 lead 15 minutes into the game when Eli Black directed in a shot after a corner kick by Noah Randolph. It was Black’s 12^th goal of the season.

Heritage’s tight, aggressive defense and goalkeeper Jan Lohman then kept the Blazers in check, and the Blazers turned away a few Eagle opportunities. Late in the second half, Blazer goalie Jack Gabler kept the 1-0 lead intact on a diving stop with an Eagle right in front of him inside the box.

With players crowded in front of the goal with about 10 minutes left, Blaine Minnier knocked in his second goal of the year on an assist from Kenneth Hott to give the Blazers much-needed breathing room. Just two minutes later, Hott kicked in his 40^th goal of the year on an assist from Black, and the Blazers were headed to the championship game.

“Blaine gave us a lift off the bench after we had been struggling to get the offense running,” Stan Hott said. “Jack stepped up and had a huge game in goal.”

Gabler made 15 stops for the Blazers, who held edges of 24-20 in shots and 8-4 in corner kicks.