TAMPA, Fla., April 8, 2026 – The University of South Florida women's lacrosse team (8-4) battled back from four goals down to tie the game in the third quarter, but ultimately fell to Florida (10-2), 14-8, on Wednesday afternoon at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. 
 
South Florida showed resilience throughout the afternoon, using a four-goal unanswered run that stretched from the second quarter into the third to erase a 7-3 deficit. The Bulls pulled even at 7-7 after goals from Kaitlyn Tartaglione and Elise Grissett in a span of 32 seconds early in the second half, but the Gators answered with seven of the game's final eight goals to secure the win.
 
Elise Grissett led the Bulls with three goals, while Ava Uphues added two. Maggie Newton posted a goal and an assist, and Sofia Chepenik and Kaitlyn Tartaglione each found the back of the net. Natalie Eastwood finished with five saves in goal.
 
How it Happened
 
Florida struck first just 55 seconds into the contest, but South Florida answered right back 19 seconds later when Maggie Newton found the net to even the score at 1-1.
The Bulls then grabbed their first lead of the day midway through the opening frame. Following a save by Natalie Eastwood and a hustle sequence that included a ground ball from Maddie Morris and pressure from Jena Binkis in the ride, Elise Grissett capitalized with a finish at the 9:09 mark to put South Florida ahead, 2-1.
Florida responded with the equalizer just 28 seconds later and added another at the 5:56 mark, but the Bulls remained within striking distance and trailed just 3-2 after one.
 
The Gators opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals to stretch their lead to 5-2, but the Bulls continued to answer.
 
Sofia Chepenik got South Florida back on the board at the 12:40 mark with a strong individual effort from behind the cage, and after Florida pushed its lead to 7-3, the Bulls responded with two critical goals before halftime.
 
Ava Uphues finished off a feed from Maggie Newton at 7:12, and Grissett buried a free-position attempt with 3:56 to play to cut the deficit to 7-5 entering the break. 
South Florida came out of halftime with momentum and quickly made its move.
Just 1:34 into the second half, Kaitlyn Tartaglione scored to make it a one-goal game. Then, only 32 seconds later, Grissett struck again to tie the game at 7-7, capping a 4-0 Bulls run and completing the comeback.
Florida answered at the 10:37 mark to regain the lead, and from there the Gators began to take control. UF added two more goals before the end of the quarter to carry a 10-7 lead into the fourth.
The Gators extended their run in the final quarter, scoring four more times to build a 14-7 advantage.
South Florida continued to battle until the final whistle, and Ava Uphues scored with three seconds remaining to account for the final margin. 
 
Note-A-Bulls:
·  Grissett's Hat Trick – Elise Grissett led the Bulls with three goals, recording her second hat trick of conference play.
·  Winning the Margins – South Florida outshot Florida 38-23 and held advantages in ground balls (18-15) and clears (16-for-16).
·  Turning Up the Pressure – The Bulls forced 14 Florida turnovers and committed just seven of their own.
 
Up Next
South Florida returns home to continue conference play on Saturday, April 11, when the Bulls host Charlotte at 1 p.m. at Corbett Stadium.


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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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