Phallon Tullis-Joyce is Making Crucial Dives On and Off the Field
OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who’s currently nominated for NWSL Player of the Week, had a strong performance against San Diego Wave FC on Saturday and an equally impressive Sunday morning as she cleaned the Puget Sound with defenders Lauren Barnes and Alana Cook.
Last Saturday, OL Reign played their 2023 NWSL home opener in front of a lively, record-breaking crowd of 9,219 fans at Lumen Field. In an entertaining battle, the Reign beat west coast foe San Diego Wave FC 1-0, thanks to a stoppage goal from Kent, WA native and second year OL Reign midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt.
"That was incredible. I mean so many fans showed up for us, especially breaking that record and then finishing it out with Olo's goal, it was just perfect. It was really, really nice," said Tullis-Joyce.
In the action-packed match, the 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year finalist made several critical saves to maintain OL Reign’s shutout, successfully keeping notorious goal scorer Alex Morgan off the scoresheet. In doing so, Tullis-Joyce earned her 11th career clean sheet, tying the club record for clean sheets. The goalkeeper joins former Reign goalkeepers Haley Kopmeyer, Hope Solo and Lydia Williams in the club’s record book.
“I know this club has had a history of amazing goalkeepers and it's really cool to just be a part of that history. I'm really grateful for my backline too, it's really with them too that we're able to set that record."
Tullis-Joyce has two clean sheets and only one goal allowed this season in three games played, which ranks first in the league in both categories. The 26-year-old finished the match with three saves. She attributes the success on the field to not only her performance, but the performance of the entire team in front of her.
"Just definitely this team, how we set up, our coaching staff, my backline, how we all work together, it's just great to be with these girls. We all have that common goal to keep that clean sheet and that's really just what it's all about for us."
Tullis-Joyce’s on-field efforts were rewarded with not only three points for the Reign and Player of the Match honors, but an NWSL Player of the Week nomination. Fans can vote for Tullis-Joyce to win the award on Twitter until 7:33 p.m. PT.
Less than 12 hours after a standout performance on the pitch in the home opener, the marine science and biology double major was participating in a beach and underwater cleanup through Seattle Dive Tours, Sealifer [SR3 - Sealife Response + Rehab + Research] and Washington Scuba Alliance.
Along with OL Reign teammates Lu Barnes and Alana Cook, Tullis-Joyce and the team of volunteers cleaned up 350 pounds of trash on the beach and underwater. Individually, Tullis-Joyce cleaned up seven pounds of underwater trash and 10 pounds on land. The underwater trash the team cleaned up in the Sound ranged from socks to fishing lures and even a scooter.
“It was 8:00 a.m. the next day for a beach cleanup with Lu and Alana. It was pretty rainy, too, but it was a lot of fun that I got to go scuba diving and do my first underwater cleanup as well,” said Tullis-Joyce.
“It was just awesome to give back to the community. I think that's just a big part of being a professional athlete, also, and just being able to clean up the Puget Sound. There were just so many fishing lures and fishing lines and just bringing a little awareness, too, of what's going on and maybe we can pick up a little bit after ourselves.”
