TAMPA, Fla., April 1, 2026 – The University of South Florida women's lacrosse team returns to Corbett Stadium on Thursday night to host Liberty in a 7:30 p.m. matchup on ESPN+. The Bulls enter the contest at 7-3 overall as they continue non-conference play and look to bounce back in front of the home crowd.
Setting the Stage
South Florida returns home after a two-game road swing through Virginia, where the Bulls picked up a dominant 21-3 win over Old Dominion before falling in a one-goal battle, 15-14, to No. 23 Richmond.
The Bulls delivered a strong offensive performance against ODU while holding the Monarchs to just three goals. South Florida then pushed nationally ranked Richmond to the wire in a tightly contested matchup, showing poise and resilience on the road despite coming up just short.
Now back in Tampa, the Bulls will aim to respond on their home field before wrapping up non-conference play next week at Florida.
The Opponent
Liberty enters Thursday night with a 4-7 overall record and is coming off a 19-7 road loss to Jacksonville. The Flames have faced a challenging schedule this season and will look to rebound as they travel to Tampa for their second-to-last non-conference contest.
Thursday's matchup marks the second all-time meeting between the two programs. South Florida won the first meeting during its inaugural season last year, defeating Liberty 18-12 on the road.
Note-A-Bulls:
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Back at Corbett – South Florida returns home Thursday night after a two-game road swing through Virginia.
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Recent Results – The Bulls defeated Old Dominion, 21-3, before falling by one goal, 15-14, to No. 23 Richmond.
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Weekly Honors –
Kali Cleary was named American Conference Midfielder of the Week on Monday, while
Maggie Newton earned Honorable Mention.
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Hat Trick Watch –
Elise Grissett,
Sofia Chepenik (twice),
Kaitlyn Tartaglione (twice),
Kali Cleary, and
Maggie Newton each recorded hat tricks during the Bulls' two-game Virginia road swing.
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Series History – Thursday marks the second all-time meeting between South Florida and Liberty. USF earned an 18-12 road win over Liberty during the 2025 season, helping coach McCord earn her 250
th career win as a coach.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women's lacrosse tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
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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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#GoBulls –
