TAMPA, APRIL 30, 2025 – The University of South Florida women's lacrosse team has 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.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM ALL-ATTACK (UNANIMOUS)
Sofia Chepenik • A • R-So. • South Florida • Jacksonville, Fla.
Chepenik finished third in the AAC in goals (49). Her 14 assists brought her to 63 points, good for fifth in the conference. She scored five or more goals in three different games this season.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM ALL-MIDFIELD
Kaitlyn Tartaglione • M • R-Jr. • South Florida • Bernardsville, N.J.
Tartaglione finished the season with 29 goals and four assists. Her 33 points were the fifth most on South Florida's roster. She also tallied 27 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers, and 27 draw controls.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM ALL-ATTACK
Juliana George • A • Gr. • South Florida • Glen Mills, Pa.
George led the Bulls in assists with 24, consistently finding cutters to the net or taking it around the crease herself. Her 30 goals made her second in the team in points (54). George tallied 10 caused turnovers and 17 ground balls.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM ALL-MIDFIELD
Kali Cleary • M • Fr. • South Florida • Naples, Fla.
Cleary, a true freshman, developed into a talented shooter in her first year. She racked up the sixth most goals on the team (14) and the fifth most assists (10) to total 24 points as the Bulls seventh-highest scorer.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM ALL-DEFENSE
Mikaela Ness • D • Sr. • South Florida • Naples, Fla.
Ness became a mainstay on the Bulls' starting defensive line as the season developed. She was first for the Bulls in caused turnovers (17) and tallied 19 groundballs to rank fifth on the team.
 
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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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