Phallon Tullis-Joyce: School, Soccer & Socks
By Hannah King
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For most people, being a full-time college student is difficult enough. Now, imagine majoring in marine biology and playing Division I soccer. This would seem nearly impossible. Yet, University of Miami redshirt sophomore Phallon Tullis-Joyce does it all effortlessly.
The Hurricanes’ starting goalkeeper has become accustomed to the busy lifestyle since she started playing soccer at four years old. In addition to soccer, Tullis-Joyce played basketball. She juggled the two until she changed positions from forward to goalkeeper at age 12.
“I always loved soccer more, but once I went into goalkeeping, that’s when I instantly loved it even more because goalkeeping is such a different position than anything else,” Tullis-Joyce said. “You get to fly and you get to do things other people can’t necessarily do. So that’s why I kind of stuck with it, just because of how different it was.”
The Shoreham, N.Y., native’s love for the ocean and her early memories of fishing trips with her grandfather sparked her interest in marine biology. Her passion for both soccer and the ocean influenced her decision to attend Miami, which she said offered her “the best of both worlds.”
In addition to her acceptance to the University, Tullis-Joyce was offered the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship and an invitation to the Foote Fellows Honors Program. These programs, in addition to the rigorous and extensive requirements for a marine biology major, oftentimes leave Tullis-Joyce with very little leeway in her schedule.
Tullis-Joyce’s day begins at 6:30 a.m., as she prepares for her two-hour practice. She wraps up with team yoga at 10:30 a.m., then gets ready for her classes. The rest of her day consists of a geology lab, psychology lecture and physics lecture, all of which are one hour and 15 minutes. Tullis-Joyce finishes her day with team meetings. All of this is done while finding time in between to eat and tackle her assignments—and this is just her Tuesday.
With this in mind, it is incredible that Tullis-Joyce has maintained an impressive 3.665 GPA and been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (min. 3.2 GPA) in all four of her collegiate 
semesters. In addition, she has earned Dean’s List (min. 3.5 GPA) recognition three times and Provost’s Honor Roll (min. 3.75 GPA) distinction twice, as well as received ACC Honor Roll accolades after each of her first two school years.
Heather de la Osa, the academic advisor for Miami’s soccer team, said that while Tullis-Joyce has a heavier schedule than most, she looks at everything as an “opportunity and not an obligation.”
In her freshman year as a scholar and an athlete, Tullis-Joyce struggled to manage her full schedule, but she did not let that deter her in school or in soccer.
Mary-Frances Monroe, Miami’s head soccer coach, characterized Tullis-Joyce as “one of the players who has grown the most.”
Tullis-Joyce was redshirted as a freshman. Though disappointed in not having the opportunity to play at the time, she looks back on that decision and is grateful.
“I would say my growth was my biggest accomplishment,” Tullis-Joyce said. “I had some pretty big weaknesses and it really took a lot of time for me as a player, working on my weaknesses, recognizing my weaknesses, and accepting my weaknesses, even though I didn’t want to, in order to gain the starting position on the team.”
Since then, Tullis-Joyce has really come out of her shell and has become someone her team can trust in goal. Last year, she started nine matches and ended the season with 24 saves and two shutouts.
Thus far in 2016, Tullis-Joyce has been even better. She has started all 11 matches and led Miami to a 7-4-0 record with six shutout victories. Included in that is a stretch of three straight shutout wins for the first time since 2008, the latter two of which led to her earning NSCAA National Player of the Week honors.
Tullis-Joyce has conceded just six goals in 942 minutes in net and her 0.57 goals against average and .838 save percentage both rank fourth in the ACC. The 6-foot-1-inch standout’s career-high-tying six saves against second-ranked Virginia aided the Hurricanes to a thrilling 2-1 victory and helped her win ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Redshirt senior Shannon McCarthy is a third-year team captain and as a defender, she works closely with Tullis-Joyce. Their dynamic duo, which they have named ‘the dark side,’ has given McCarthy the unique opportunity and insight into the player Tullis-Joyce has become.
“She’s a very fierce competitor and to see her confidence really shoot through the roof and for her to really come into her own as our goalie was awesome,” McCarthy said. “I think her biggest attribute is her presence. She demands the best and she doesn’t accept anything less than that on the defensive end.”
Redshirt sophomore defender Danielle Savage also added that her close friend “keeps morale high and does not back down.”
Whether it is picking her teammates up with a joke or leading the team’s chant before every game, Tullis-Joyce brings energy to her teammates and helps solidify the team’s camaraderie.
Even with 24 players on the team, Tullis-Joyce comments on how close they have all become and how this has benefitted their chemistry on the field.
“You now have best friends that you are going to have for the rest of your life,” Tullis-Joyce said. “[These are] your bridesmaids.”
While most know Tullis-Joyce for her tremendous work ethic, to her teammates she is known for her humor and her socks.
Tullis-Joyce has over 150 pairs of vibrant socks. From her first pair of superhero socks, her collection has grown according to her different passions. This began as a way to showcase her personality without having to say anything and has transcended into a way for her to meet new people.
“I have people come up to me and start conversations just because of my socks,” Tullis-Joyce said.
Her individuality is not limited to her socks, however. A creative, passionate and highly intelligent person, Tullis-Joyce has hopes of pursuing a Ph.D. in marine biology, as well as goals of a possible professional career in soccer following her time at Miami.
Tullis-Joyce’s ability to succeed in her hectic schedule, all while maintaining a smile, is testament to how far she will go, whether it is on the field or in the ocean.
