TAMPA, MARCH 31, 2025 – University of South Florida women's lacrosse defender Mikaela Ness and midfielder Kaitlyn Tartaglione have been named to this week's American Athletic Conference players of the week.
 
Sofia Chepenik and Paige Pagano were also named to the AAC Honorable Mentions list.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MIDFIELDER OF THE WEEK
Kaitlyn Tartaglione • R-Jr. • South Florida • Bernardsville, N.J.
Tartaglione contributed at both ends of the field to help South Florida to a 3-0 start in American Athletic Conference play with a 17-7 win against Vanderbilt. She scored a goal and added two assists on the offensive end. She finished with game highs of five ground balls and three caused turnovers, to go with four draw controls. This is the first time Tartaglione has earned this honor this season, becoming the third Bull to earn the honor this season (Bailey Morris and Claire Natoli).
 
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mikaela Ness • Gr. • South Florida • Forest Lake, Minn.
Ness led a defensive effort that helped limit Vanderbilt to a season-low seven goals and 19 shots in a 17-7 Bulls win, improving South Florida to 9-2. Ness finished with three ground balls, and two caused turnovers as the Bulls held their opponent to single-digit scoring for the sixth consecutive game. Ness leads the Bulls with 11 caused turnovers and is fourth on the squad with 13 ground balls in 2025. This is Ness' second time earning this honor in three weeks.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Sofia Chepenik • R-So. • South Florida • Jacksonville, Fla.
Chepenik sang the national anthem before the game, then went on to score her eighth hat trick of the season and fifth in a row, which, along with an assist, helped her co-lead the Bulls in points (four) in a 17-7 win against Vanderbilt. Chepenik has won Attack Player of the Week once this season (Feb. 24) and has been named an honorable mention four times now, with this being the third week in a row.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Paige Pagano • Gr. • South Florida • Toronto, Ont.
Pagano made nine saves and allowed only seven goals in a 17-7 win against Vanderbilt. This was her sixth straight game allowing 10 or fewer goals. She now has nine wins on the season. This is Pagano's second AAC honorable mention of the season to go along with four GK of the Week awards.
 
Up Next:
USF will travel to Charlotte in a battle of inaugural teams on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+.
 
Tickets:
Tickets to watch USF women's lacrosse at Corbett Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.
 
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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 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.
 
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