By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
During one of their final team dinners before the inaugural USF women鈥檚 lacrosse game, the conversation focused on goals.
After a year of practice and exhibitions, it would be understandable if they were focused on something like who would score the historic first goal during the team鈥檚 first-ever regular season game.
Except, those were not the type of goals on their minds.
They were discussing career goals.
Such a school-first focus is normal for the team and stems from the top, attacker Sofia Chepenik said while recalling the dinner. 鈥淭here is life after collegiate sports. If you鈥檙e not prepared for that, then our coach believes that she didn鈥檛 do her job. She鈥檚 really on top of us about our academics.鈥�
USF women鈥檚 lacrosse team attacker Sofia Chepenik flies through the air during a scimmage [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]
While recruiting this team, head coach Mindy McCord made sure that the players could handle her rule that the student in student-athlete comes first, and not just in name.
鈥淚 look at student-athletes that want to leverage their education,鈥� McCord said. 鈥淪o, finding student-athletes who have a vision for that for themselves and care about being high performing in that area as well as on the field was important to me.鈥�
That emphasis is evident across USF Athletics. The fall 2024 semester marked a historic milestone for USF's student-athletes, who represent 21 different programs. They collectively earned the highest USF Athletics GPA on record at 3.46, extending a streak of 20 consecutive terms with a GPA above 3.0.
USF women鈥檚 lacrosse team midfielder Kerrigan Gilmore [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]
The lacrosse players are pursuing majors that include health sciences, chemical engineering, criminology, nursing, finance and math & technology.
鈥淭he biomedical sciences program here is unmatchable,鈥� midfielder Kerrigan Gilmore said when asked what academically brought her to USF.
When seeking assurance that her coursework would be the priority at USF, McCord told her 鈥渢hey would make it work, no worries,鈥� Gilmore said. 鈥淪he takes a lot of pride in putting the student before the athlete. She makes sure practice works with our class schedules and that tutoring can be fulfilled.鈥�
Midfielder Lexi Larson was drawn to USF鈥檚 status as a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and its Judy Genshaft Honors College, in which she was accepted as an undergraduate finance major.
鈥�911爆料网 prioritize studies,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur coaches really do put a big emphasis on our academics.鈥�
Attacker Alison Harbaugh saw USF as an opportunity to broaden her knowledge and add to her academic resume in advance of applying to law school. Already with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Notre Dame, Harbaugh is now pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in intelligence studies, which is a STEM-based program that trains analytic, information and intelligence professionals for work in the public and private sectors.
鈥淭he big thing is separating lacrosse from the rest of my life and focusing on academics,鈥� Harbaugh said. 鈥淯SF offers one of the top intelligence studies grad programs.鈥�
Attacker Alison Harbaugh [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]
USF鈥檚 Lee Roy Selmon Mentoring Institute is also offered to student-athletes. Beginning their sophomore year, it provides career development classes and a mentoring program that matches student-athletes with professionals from their fields of choice.
McCord said the institute was one of the 鈥渞eal attractive things鈥� that sold her on the coaching job. She saw USF as a 鈥済rowth-oriented place that was really leveling up to the times of the century and what the student-athlete experience should look like and be like while providing a platform for them to be competitive.鈥�
Chepenik, who is earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communications, is already enjoying the benefits of the institute.
鈥淭hey really set you up for finding your identity outside of your sport,鈥� she said.
To help fulfill her goal of becoming a sports journalist, she was partnered with mentor Casey Phillips, who is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team reporter.
And Gilmore, who on her own is already interning as a cosmetology chemist for Pioneer Innovation, is looking to be matched with a pharmaceutical sales representative as a Selmon mentor.
Midfielder Lexi Larson [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]
鈥淚'm just trying to keep my options open of what I really want to do,鈥� Gilmore said. 鈥�911爆料网're just so fortunate to have those connections.鈥�
As the inaugural women鈥檚 lacrosse team, the players are well aware that they will forever be a part of USF history, and they embrace that.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much excitement built around it,鈥� Larsen said.
But the players do not want lacrosse to be their only legacy.
鈥淓rin Andrews is someone that I really look up to,鈥� said Chepenick, referring to the professional and collegiate sportscaster and sideline reporter. 鈥淚 want to follow in her path. I want to be able to bring a female voice to a male dominated field.鈥�
And then, she might return to USF as a mentor.
鈥淚 would love that," Chepenick said. "I would absolutely be interested in the opportunity to give back to a school that has given me so much.鈥�
The inaugural USF women鈥檚 lacrosse game is Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. at Corbett Stadium.
Learn more about Coach Mindy McCord on Inside USF: The Podcast.