TAMPA, Fla., May 7, 2026 – The University of South Florida Women's Lacrosse program had two players, Sofia Chepenik and Kaitlyn Tartaglione, named USA Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention this Thursday, as USA Lacrosse revealed its 2026 NCAA Division I All-America Teams.
 
Chepenik, a redshirt junior attacker from Jacksonville, Fla., led the Bulls and ranked among the nation's top scorers with 51 goals, 18 assists and 69 points in 17 games — all while shooting 40.8 percent from the field. She tied the program's single-game high with seven points against Charlotte on April 11 and finished the regular season as the team's clear offensive catalyst, pacing a South Florida attack that averaged nearly 14 goals per game, to earn first-team all-conference, conference attacker of the year, and finish on the all-tournament team.
 
Tartaglione, a redshirt senior midfielder from Bernardsville, N.J., brought a two-way impact to the Bulls' midfield all season, finishing with 23 goals, three assists, and 26 points to go along with 29 draw controls and a team-high 16 caused turnovers. She started all 17 games and was one of the program's most consistent contributors on both ends of the field, earning first-team all-conference and conference midfielder of the year.
 
All-Americans were selected by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff with input from coaches and conferences across the country. A total of 102 players from 36 Division I programs earned recognition in 2026.
 
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About USF Women's Lacrosse
Amidst 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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