TAMPA, Fla., March 30, 2026 – The University of South Florida women's lacrosse team mounted a fourth-quarter comeback Monday morning but ultimately fell to Richmond, 15–14. The Bulls rallied from four goals down in the final frame and tied the game with just over five minutes to play before Richmond netted the game-winner.
 
South Florida (7–3, 3–0) came out fast, scoring three unanswered goals in the opening five minutes behind strikes from Kaitlyn Tartaglione, Elise Grissett, and Sofia Chepenik. Richmond answered with three straight to even the score, but Chepenik found the back of the net with 35 seconds left in the quarter to give the Bulls a 4–3 edge after one.
 
The Bulls extended their lead in the second quarter with a 4–0 run fueled by Alex Whitecliffe with a behind the back goal, Chepenik, Grissett, and Ava Uphues, building an 8–3 advantage midway through the period. Richmond closed the half strong, however, scoring four of the final five goals to cut the deficit to 8–7 heading into the break.
 
Richmond carried that momentum into the third quarter, scoring four of the first five goals to take a 12–9 lead entering the fourth. After the Spiders pushed the margin to 14–10 early in the final frame, South Florida responded with four goals in just over six minutes. Tartaglione started the surge on a free-position shot, Uphues followed with another, and Grissett and Chepenik each added late goals to tie the game at 14–14 with 5:03 remaining. Richmond answered with the decisive goal at the 2:15 mark and held off the Bulls over the final minutes to secure the win.
 
 
Chepenik and Grissett each finished with four goals and one assist to lead the Bulls offensively, while Tartaglione added three goals. Uphues chipped in two goals, and Whitecliffe added one. Maggie Newton recorded two assists, while Bailey Morris also added an assist. In goal, Natalie Eastwood made 11 saves. South Florida controlled the draw circle for much of the afternoon, finishing with a 19–12 advantage in draw controls. 
 
Note-A-Bulls:

• Hat Trick Trio – Sofia Chepenik, Elise Grissett, and Kaitlyn Tartaglione all recorded hat tricks.
• Draw Control Edge – The Bulls controlled possession with a 19–12 advantage in draw controls.
• Late Push – South Florida scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to erase a 14–10 deficit and tie the game with just over five minutes remaining. 
• Balanced Attack – Five different Bulls found the scoresheet, with USF totaling 14 goals and five assists on the afternoon. 

 
UP NEXT
South Florida returns home to Corbett Stadium in Tampa on Thursday, April 2, to host Liberty at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
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About USF Women's Lacrosse
Entering its second season, the University of South Florida women's lacrosse program builds on a historic inaugural year that quickly established the Bulls as a contender in the American Athletic Conference. South Florida opened its first-ever season on Feb. 7, 2025, with a 19–6 win over Kennesaw State, setting the State of Florida regular-season attendance record as 2,386 fans filled Corbett Stadium. The Bulls went on to finish the 2025 season with a 13–5 record and earned a place in the American Conference Championship in their inaugural season, ultimately finishing as the league's runner-up. South Florida also drew more than 10,000 total fans to Corbett Stadium during the season. USF named Mindy McCord, an eight-time conference coach of the year, as the program's first head coach in May 2022. McCord arrived in Tampa with 240 career wins and a proven record of building successful programs after launching and leading Jacksonville University's women's lacrosse team for its first 13 seasons. During her tenure at JU, she guided the Dolphins to 21 regular-season and conference tournament titles, eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and back-to-back Sweet Sixteen berths while developing 13 All-Americans, 81 all-conference selections, and 13 conference Player of the Year honorees. South Florida plays a fast-paced, high-scoring style influenced by the early 1990s Loyola Marymount men's basketball fast break. That approach ranked among the national leaders in shots, points per game, and scoring margin during McCord's tenure at Jacksonville and continues to shape the Bulls' offensive identity heading into year two.
 
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