Box score

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Stevenson women's soccer sophomore Samantha Novy (Severna Park/Severna Park) had a goal and an assist, including the game-winner, as the Mustangs advanced to their first conference title game since 2006 with a 3-2 victory over York (Pa.) in the semifinals of the CAC Women's Soccer Championship Wednesday at Caves Athletics Complex.

The win was the 10th-straight for Stevenson (14-3-1) who are now just one win shy of the school record for wins in a season, also set in 2006. It also extended the Mustangs' win streak against the Spartans to three.

As a result of its fifth consecutive win at home and Mary Washington's stunning upset over Salisbury on the road in Wednesday's other semifinal, Stevenson will host the CAC Women's Soccer Championship title game on Saturday against the Eagles. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Novy's goal in the 71st minute was her sixth of the season and her second career game-winner, both of which have come against York after she scored the game's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the Spartans on the road a year ago on Oct. 21, 2008.

York (14-5-1) came out determined to avenge its only conference loss suffered on the same field back on October 21 of this season as Steph Mergler scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season just 3:25 into the game when she lifted a failed clear over the head of Stevenson freshman Lauren Weitzman (Westminster/Winters Mill).

The goal gave the Spartans their first lead against the Mustangs in the last three meetings, covering a span of 183:25.

However, the lead would last just over 18 minutes before Stevenson's two leading scorers would connect in the 22nd minute when sophomore Stephanie Eyler (Thurmont/Catoctin) scored the first of her two goals off a feed from freshman Melinda Kane (Baltimore/Mercy).

Eyler would add her CAC-leading 19th of the year in the 42nd minute on a pass from Novy to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead at halftime.

In the first meeting between the two teams, Eyler also netted two first half goals to give Stevenson a 3-0 advantage with all three goals coming in the a span of 12:36.

After Novy increased the Mustangs lead to 3-1 with exactly 20 minutes remaining, Kaitlyn Harney scored her second goal of the year 4:25 later on a pass from Ally Wivell to cut the Spartan deficit to one at 3-2, but Stevenson would withstand the charge to remain unbeaten in nine out of 10 games at home this season.

Weitzman finished with four saves for the Mustangs while Sarah Spanarkel had six for York.

Saturday will mark the third conference championship game appearance for Stevenson in the last five years after they won the NEAC title in 2005 and lost in 2006.

Just 12 days ago on October 24, the Mustangs handed Mary Washington a 3-2 overtime loss when junior Heather Redding (Street/North Harford) scored with only 1:57 remaining in the first overtime.