The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers advanced to the Mason Dixon Christian Conference semifinals by defeating New Life Christian 3-0 Tuesday.

The game was a scoreless tie at halftime, surprising because the Blazers (18-3-1) had outscored last-seeded New Life 16-0 in their two regular-season meetings. The second-seeded Blazers pressed the action in the first half, but several point-blank shots were either stopped by New Life’s goalkeeper or airmailed over the crossbar.

About 10 minutes into the second half, though, defenseman Preston Hammond headed in a shot off a corner kick to put the Blazers ahead. It was Hammond’s second goal of the year.

Given that New Life was putting very little pressure on the defense – goalkeeper Gabe Beckering was forced to make only one save, and that on a bouncing shot that had almost no chance of going in – the 1-0 margin seemed insurmountable.

The lead swelled to 2-0 when Lachlan Smith knocked in a shot from right in front of the net for his second goal of the season. Bradley Stayman tapped in the final goal, his fifth of the season, on a close-range shot late in the game.

Titus Hott and Landon Kellogg provided assists for the Blazers.

The Blazers host third-seeded Grace Academy on Thursday at 4:15 in the MDCC semifinals. Grace defeated Heritage 7-0 Tuesday in its quarterfinal match and defeated the Blazers twice in the regular season by scores of 2-1 and 3-1. Faith Christian upset Calvary Christian 1-0 in the other quarterfinal and will play at top-seeded Shalom Thursday.