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 first announcement of the team's formation and the first draw whistle in USF lacrosse history, over 10,000 fans cheered on the Bulls across 11 home games and learned the newest South Florida sport.
 
After going 997 days between coaching Division I women's lacrosse games, head coach Mindy McCord and her staff led the Bulls to 13 wins, finishing as the regular-season and postseason American Athletic Conference runner-up. The Bulls' 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 to help build the South Florida program and establish a strong team culture, four Bulls' upperclassmen earned AAC All-Conference Team selection: 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 USF roster consisted of 28 freshmen or redshirt freshmen out of 40 roster spots. Four freshmen started at least five games in 2025. 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 enjoy women's lacrosse games at Corbett Stadium. The Bulls ranked fourth in the NCAA in average attendance per game (921) and outdrew all conference opponents and all southeastern USA women's lacrosse programs.
 
Feb. 7: An Unforgettable Debut
A state of Florida women's lacrosse regular season-record 2,386 fans cheered on the Bulls in the first game in program history. USF took down Kennesaw State 19-6 in front of the eighth-highest single-game attendance in NCAA Women's Lacrosse on the 2025 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 Stadium and beat Lehigh 17-7, continuing their streak of never trailing at any point during their first three games.
 
Feb. 18: No. 5 Florida in Town
South Florida welcomed the fifth-ranked Florida Gators to Tampa. The Bulls were only down four goals (11-7) in the third quarter but wound up falling 18-11 despite 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, as Sofia Chepenik recorded a second straight five-goal effort.
 
March 2: The Start of the Streak
South Florida went on to win its next six games in March, starting with a 19-5 victory over St. Bonaventure behind Maggie Newton's five-goal performance.
 
March 9-11: Two Wins in Three Days
The Bulls went on to 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 national gameday feature, the Bulls took down Temple 15-9 for the 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. The Pirates went on to earn the three-seed in the AAC Tournament.
 
March 29: Win Streak Hits Six
South Florida took down Vanderbilt, which went 17-7 and was the eventual four-seed in the AAC Tournament, to extend their win streak to a season-high six games. The Bulls went undefeated in March.
 
April 4: Battle of Inaugural Teams
The Bulls' win streak ended against the other inaugural AAC team in the 2025 season as Charlotte claimed a 17-16 victory. The Bulls trailed 6-1 in the first quarter but battled back with a relentless fourth quarter attack.
 
April 6: Career Win No. 250 in Lynchburg
Head 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 her collegiate career 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 a 15-10 victory over ODU. While seniors Maggie Newton and Kaitlyn Tartaglione will return for their final season, Juliana George, Paige Pagano, Mikaela Ness, Alison Harbaugh, Caroline Gallagher, and Priscilla Santos will all depart USF following graduation.
 
April 19: Battle for AAC Regular Season Championship
The Bulls traveled to Harrisonburg, Va., to play No. 9-ranked James Madison with a shot at the AAC Regular Season title on the line, but came up short as JMU prevailed 20-6.
 
April 23: 23 Again
South Florida closed out the regular season by tying a program record with 23 goals, this time reaching the mark 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 named to the First Team, with Chepenik's being a unanimous selection. Kali Cleary (Midfield), Juliana George (Attack), and Mikaela Ness (Defense) were named to the Second Team.
 
May 1: AAC Tournament Semifinal
The No. 2-seed Bulls matched up against No. 3-seed ECU in the AAC Championship Tournament semifinal in Norfolk, Va. Freshman Bailey Morris scored the go-ahead goal with 2:24 remaining and a game-clinching goal with 55 seconds to play 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-ranked 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, facing No. 5 Florida and No. 9 James Madison (twice). Though they lost each game against the NCAA Tournament-bound teams, they kept up with the competition through halftime in each game. The Bulls defeated 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).
• USF had the 11^th-best points per game average (22.65).
• The Bulls' 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 ranked 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 –