TAMPA, MAY 7, 2025 – The University of South Florida women’s lacrosse team has concluded their historic inaugural season.
 
After waiting 1,185 days between the team’s first announcement and their first draw whistle, over 10,000 fans showed up across 11 home games to learn the new South Florida sport.
 
After going 997 days between coaching Division I women’s lacrosse games, head coach Mindy McCord and staff coached the Bulls to 13 wins, finishing as the regular-season and postseason conference runner-up. The final record marked the second-most wins for an inaugural women’s lacrosse program in NCAA history (High Point University went 15-4 in 2011).
 
After taking a full year off from competition in order to arrive to South Florida and help establish a culture, four upperclassmen made AAC All-Conference Team selections: Sofia Chepenik (Unanimous First), Kaitlyn Tartaglione (First), Juliana George (Second), and Mikaela Ness (Second).
 
Youth Movement
Coach McCord and the Bulls coaching staff put an emphasis on recruiting full classes, without leaning too heavily on the transfer portal. The Bulls’ roster consisted of 28 freshman or redshirt freshman out of their 40 roster spots, four of which started at least five games. True freshman Kali Cleary represented South Florida on the AAC All-Conference Team (Second).
 
Drawing Interest
The Bulls finished the season third in the NCAA in cumulative attendance, with 10,127 fans paying to enter Corbett Stadium to watch women’s lacrosse. The Bulls were fourth in the NCAA in average attendance per game (921). They outdrew all conference opponents and all southeastern USA programs.
 
Feb. 7: An Unforgettable Debut
A state of Florida women’s lacrosse regular season record, 2,386 fans showed up to the first game in program history as the Bulls took down Kennesaw State 19-6. This was the eighth-highest single-game attendance in NCAA Women’s Lacrosse this season.
 
Feb. 11: Pagano’s 17 Saves Earn Bulls First Road Win
Paige Pagano tied her career-high with 17 saves in an 11-8 win over the NCAA Tournament-bound Mercer Bears.
 
Feb. 14: Undefeated Without Trailing
The Bulls returned home to Corbett and beat Lehigh 17-7, continuing their streak of never trailing through their first three games.
 
Feb. 18: No. 5 Florida in Town
South Florida welcomed the fifth-ranked Gators to Tampa. The Bulls were only down four goals (11-7) in the third quarter, but wound up falling 18-11 even with Sofia Chepenik’s five-goal effort.
 
Feb. 23: Taking Towson to the Wire
The Bulls fell to 11-time NCAA Tournament qualifier Towson by a score of 13-12, despite Sofia Chepenik’s second straight five-goal effort.
 
March 2: The Start of the Streak
South Florida went on to win the next six games in March, starting with their 19-5 win against St. Bonaventure, behind Maggie Newton’s five-goal performance.
 
March 9-11: Two Wins in Three Days
The Bulls then beat Xavier (20-4) and Bucknell (16-8) in a three-day span.
 
March 15: First American Athletic Conference Win
With USA Lacrosse on campus for their gameday feature, the Bulls took down Temple 15-9 for their first AAC win in program history.
 
March 22: Program Record 23 Goals
The Bulls continued their win streak with a program record 23 goals over ECU, who went on to be the three-seed in the AAC Tournament.
 
March 29: Win Streak Hits Six
South Florida took down the eventual four-seed in the AAC Tournament, Vanderbilt (17-7), to extend their win streak to a season-high six games, going undefeated in March.
 
April 4: Battle of Inaugural Teams
The Bulls’ win streak ended against the other inaugural AAC team, Charlotte, 17-16. The Bulls had trailed 6-1 in the first quarter and battled back with a relentless fourth quarter attack.
 
April 6: Career Win No. 250 in Lynchburg
Coach Mindy McCord, who played four years of college lacrosse at Lynchburg University, earned her 250^th win as an NCAA women’s lacrosse coach in the town where it all began. The Bulls took down NCAA Tournament-bound Liberty by a score of 18-12. Coach McCord’s former coach, Enza Steele, who inspired her to pick up coaching after graduating, was in attendance.
 
April 12: Senior Day Win
The Bulls recognized their eight seniors ahead of their 15-10 win over ODU. While Maggie Newton and Kaitlyn Tartaglione will return for their final season, Juliana George, Paige Pagano, Mikaela Ness, Alison Harbaugh, Caroline Gallagher, and Priscilla Santos are all departing USF upon graduation.
 
April 19: Battle for AAC Regular Season Championship
The Bulls traveled to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to play No. 9 James Madison for a shot at the AAC Regular Season title, but they came up short, losing 20-6.
 
April 23: 23 Again
South Florida closed out the regular season, tying their program record of 23 goals, this time against Stetson at home in Corbett Stadium.
 
All-AAC Team
The Bulls earned five AAC All-Conference selections in their inaugural season. Sofia Chepenik (Attack) and Kaitlyn Tartaglione (Midfield) were each named to the First Team, with Chepenik’s selection being unanimous. Kali Cleary (Midfield), Juliana George (Attack), and Mikaela Ness (Defense) were named to the Second Team.
 
May 1: AAC Tournament Semifinal
The Bulls (No. 2 seed) matched up against ECU (No. 3 seed) for the AAC Championship Tournament Semifinal in Norfolk, Virginia. Bailey Morris scored the go-ahead goal with 2:24 remaining and a game-clinching goal (0:55) as the Bulls advanced to the Championship Final with a 14-12 win over the Pirates.
 
May 3: James Madison Rematch
The Bulls dueled the Dukes again for the AAC Tournament Championship, exactly two weeks after facing them for the AAC Regular Season Championship. This Championship bout was even closer. The Bulls trailed by three (10-7) in the third quarter, but could not hold off No. 9 James Madison’s relentless attack, falling 18-9.
 
All-AAC Tournament Team
The Bulls earned four spots on the AAC All-Tournament Team in their inaugural season: Kaitlyn Tartaglione (Midfield), Kali Cleary (Midfield), Maggie Newton (Attack), and Bailey Morris (Midfield).
 
Final RPI Ranking
The Bulls finished the season ranked 38th on the NCAA’s official RPI system, the highest they reached all season. The Bulls played against a top-10 ranked team three times: No. 5 Florida and No. 9 James Madison (twice). Though they lost each game against these NCAA Tournament-bound teams, they kept up with the competition through halftime in each game. The Bulls did defeat two NCAA Tournament-bound teams, both on the road, taking down Mercer by a score of 11-8 and Liberty 18-12.
 
Final Statistical Rankings
The Bulls finished the season ranked first in the AAC in eight different statistical categories:

• South Florida spent multiple weeks ranked first in the nation in shots per game, with their final ranking sitting fourth in the NCAA (35.94 shots).
• The Bulls finished sixth in shots on goal per game (26.33).
• South Florida had the 10^th-ranked scoring offense (15.61) and the 12^th-best scoring margin (5.11).
• They had the 11^th-best points per game (22.65).
• Their 17.56 ground balls per game and 9.22 caused turnovers per game both ranked 32^nd-best in the NCAA.
• The Bulls’ 47.2 free-position shooting percentage was 43^rd in the nation.

 
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About USF Women’s Lacrosse
The University of South Florida announced the addition of women’s lacrosse to its now 21-sport varsity athletics department in November of 2021. Fast forward to Feb. 7, 2025, the program embarked on its inaugural season in a 19-6 win over KSU, setting the State of Florida’s regular season attendance record (2,386 fans). The Bulls named eight-time conference coach of the year Mindy McCord to lead the program in May of 2022. McCord, who came to USF with 240 career wins, earned 21 regular-season and conference-tournament titles at Jacksonville University. She led the program to eight NCAA appearances after launching and leading the Dolphins’ program over its first 13 years. She developed 13 All-Americans, 81 all-conference selections, and 13 conference Player of the Year honorees during that span, departing JU following back-to-back Sweet Sixteen berths. USF runs a fast-paced, high-scoring offense influenced by the early 1990s Loyola Marymount men’s basketball record-setting fast break, which ranked among the national leaders in shots, points per game, and scoring margin numerous seasons during McCord’s tenure at JU.
 
– #GoBulls –