TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida women’s lacrosse team didn’t just win on Saturday—they secured a spot in the history books.
By dismantling East Carolina 17-4 at Corbett Stadium, the Bulls officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the American Conference Tournament and at least a share of the regular-season title.
The win puts USF in elite company. They are now one of only two programs in Division I women’s lacrosse history, alongside Florida, to win a conference championship within their first two seasons. The Bulls (10-4, 5-0 American) locked up the top seed after James Madison defeated Vanderbilt, giving South Florida the necessary tie-breaker advantage.
READ: Elise Grissett Ignites USF Lacrosse With Historic Six-Goal Opener
It was a wire-to-wire rout that began almost immediately after the opening whistle. Kaitlyn Tartaglione set the tone by scoring two unassisted goals in the first 24 seconds of play.
By the time the first quarter ended, USF had built a massive 9-1 lead. Sofia Chepenik added a man-up goal during that opening stretch, part of a balanced offensive attack that saw nine different Bulls find the back of the net.
Maggie Newton turned in a game-high six points, finishing with a hat trick and three assists. Chepenik also recorded a hat trick and an assist, extending her streak of scoring in every single game this season. Other key contributors included Elise Grissett and Ava Uphues, who both netted two goals apiece.
USF’s dominance wasn’t limited to the scoreboard. The Bulls controlled the tempo by winning 19 of 23 draw controls, with Jena Binkis leading the way with six wins at the circle. The pressure kept the Pirates on their heels, as USF outshot East Carolina 42-26 and maintained a clinical 84.6% success rate on clears.
In the net, Natalie Eastwood stayed sharp, recording nine saves on 12 shots before Hailey Darko stepped in for relief duty. The defense was equally disciplined, holding the Pirates to just one conversion on three free-position attempts, while the Bulls’ offense went a perfect 4-for-4 on their own man-up opportunities.
While the No. 1 seed is secured, the Bulls still have work to do if they want the title all to themselves. They travel to face Vanderbilt on Saturday, April 26, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
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