OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Lead by two goals from junior Rosemarie Neiva, the second-seeded Stevenson field hockey team defeated Lebanon Valley, 3-1 in the MAC Commonwealth semifinals on Wednesday at Mustang Stadium.

With the win, the Mustangs (12-8, 5-2 MAC Commonwealth) will appear in their first-ever MAC Commonwealth championship game on Saturday.

Stevenson scored on its first shot of the game when junior Holli Eppley controlled pass off a penalty corner, and crossed it to freshman Sara McVey at the top.  McVey found Neiva beyond the last Dutchmen defender to finish the play and put Stevenson up 1-0.

The Mustangs had a chance to double their lead at 14:35 when Eppley received a cross in the middle of the circle, but Lebanon Valley goalkeeper Victoria ByDeLey saved it.  ByDeLey totaled two saves in the half and three in the game.

With just under eight minutes left in the half, the Mustangs had yet another chance at the goal.  On a Stevenson breakaway, Neiva dribbled through the Lebanon Valley defense but stumbled and lost control when she was 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. 

The Dutchmen (10-8, 5-2 MAC Commonwealth) edged Stevenson 7-6 in shots and 5-4 in penalty corners in the first half, but the hosts held a 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard.

Just under 20 minutes into the second half, Lebanon Valley tied the score 1-1 when Lyndee Sheaffer received a pass in the middle and fired a shot over the shoulder of junior goalkeeper Kim Hahr. 

With 5:01 left in the game, Neiva controlled a rebound off of ByDeLey and found the back of the net for her second goal of the night.  This was Neiva's sixth multi-goal game of the season, and third in her last four games.

Just 1:38 later, McVey tacked on another goal on a redirect from classmate Katelyn Byram, putting the Mustangs up 3-1.

Lebanon Valley lead Stevenson 14-11 in shots and 10-6 in penalty corners.  Hahr totaled five saves in the game.

The Mustangs will travel to No.1 Messiah on Saturday, November 7 for the MAC Commonwealth championship game.  Game time is TBD.