TAMPA, Fla., April 7, 2026 – The University of South Florida women's lacrosse team (8-3) travels to Gainesville on Wednesday to take on No. 7 Florida (8-2) in just the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The opening draw is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
Setting the Stage
South Florida enters Wednesday's matchup following one of the most dramatic wins in program history. The Bulls trailed by as many as three goals against Liberty multiple times on April 2, weathered an hour-long rain delay, and never led until Maggie Newton's goal at the 2:03 mark of double overtime sent the team home at 11 p.m. — capping the first 2OT finish in program history.
 
The win was built on a complete defensive effort. South Florida's defense surrendered seven goals in the first half, then allowed just one over the final 37 minutes of play. The Bulls forced 17 caused turnovers, collected 26 ground balls, and did not fail a single clear attempt after the second quarter.
 
The Opponent
Florida enters Wednesday's matchup as one of the hottest teams in the country, having won six consecutive games entering this week. The Gators rank among the national leaders in scoring offense, averaging over 16 goals per game this season, and feature one of the nation's most dangerous attacks — 11 different Gators found the net in a 22-7 win over Kennesaw State in March.
 
Last Saturday, Florida leaned on sophomore goalkeeper Susan Radebaugh to hold off No. 16 Colorado 9-7 in a defensive battle at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
 
The Gators hold a 144-24 all-time record at The Diz, making the road environment one of the most difficult in college lacrosse.

Note-A-Bulls:

• Historic Win – USF's 9-8 double-overtime win over Liberty on April 2 was the first 2OT game in program history.
• Newton's Milestone – Maggie Newton recorded the 200th point of her career with a hat trick and the game-winning goal against Liberty.
• Scoring Trio – Sofia Chepenik (30 goals), Ava Uphues (28), and Elise Grissett (26) each surpassed 25 goals on the season against Liberty.
• Series History – Wednesday marks just the second all-time meeting between South Florida and Florida. The Gators won the first matchup during USF's inaugural 2025 season.
   

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.
 
– #GoBulls –