Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The wait was finally over. After more than three years of anticipation, USF women’s lacrosse made its long-awaited debut — and did so in a dominant fashion. The Bulls stormed past Kennesaw State with a commanding 19-6 victory, launching their inaugural season in front of 2,386 roaring fans.
For head coach Mindy McCord, the night carried extra significance. It marked her return to Division I coaching after nearly three years, and the atmosphere reflected the weight of the moment.
Among the crowd were Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti, USF President Rhea Law, and Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh, — all there to witness history.
“I had a lot of nerves, but we [had] just been preparing for so long, it’s now just time to let us show all the hard work we put in,” McCord said. “Enjoy the moment, but don’t make the moment more than it is. You saw a little bit of tifts in the beginning, but I think they settled in and really started playing together.”
USF wasted no time making an impression, jumping to a 7-1 lead in the opening minutes while keeping Kennesaw State from gaining possession for the first 7:28.
Attacker Juliana George etched her name in the record books, scoring the program’s first goal just 48 seconds after the opening draw.
Attacker Maggie Newton followed with another quick strike, assisted by attack Alison Harbaugh, who recorded the first assist in USF history.
The Bulls carried their momentum into halftime with a dominant 12-3 lead, fueled by George’s three goals and an assist.
USF remained firmly in control in the second half, outscoring the Owls 7-3. Attacker Sofia Chepenik led the Bulls with six points (four goals, two assists), while midfielder Bailey Morris matched her team-high four goals.
“I really liked our spirit on the sideline. We had a lot of good energy, and I liked our ride game. We forced a lot of cause turnovers and got the ball back. So those possessions for us get us more shots on goal,” McCord said.
Defensively, USF stifled Kennesaw State, forcing 15 turnovers and holding them to just 21 total shots. The Bulls outshot the Owls 37-21 and executed 17 of 19 clear attempts while limiting Kennesaw to just seven successful clears on 13 tries.
As the final buzzer sounded, McCord was drenched in a celebratory Powerade bath — a moment her team had been waiting years to deliver. Fireworks lit up the sky, marking the official launch of USF’s 20th athletic program.
“Bulls Nation, like 100%—they were invested. They were here. They cheered with us when we scored goals. They rallied,” McCord said. “Everyone came out here ready to help us win, and we’re just so thankful for our Bulls family, helping us to start this legacy.”
Now with two wins under the belt, Kennesaw (19-6) and Mercer (11-8), the Bulls take on Lehigh University on Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Corbett Stadium.
