Williamsburg, KY – Emily Heim netted back-to-back goals with 10:57 remaining to put the Patriots on top for good as the second-ranked UC Women's Lacrosse team defeated eighth-ranked Georgetown 18-16 to capture their first AAC Tournament championship Saturday afternoon at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.  With the win the Patriots earn an automatic berth to the NAIA Invitational and improve to 19-1 on the season, while Georgetown falls to 11-7.

Both goalies made saves to start the game however it was UC that struck first as Emily Heim bounced a shot into the cage to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead with 26:19 remaining.  The two teams traded goals before Samantha Tullar scooped the draw control and raced up field for a goal to extend the Patriots lead to 3-1. Georgetown netted back-to-back goals to tie the game at 3-3 nine minutes in.  UC responded as Heim netted a goal before finding Kelsey Fearing in front of the cage for a goal to give Cumberlands a 5-3 lead.  Tullar won the ensuing draw control and on the Patriots possession, she converted a free position goal, her 200^th career goal, to extend UC's lead to 6-3 midway through the first half. 

Tristyn Hudson and Angelica Makoski each added a goal to give Cumberlands an 8-3 advantage with 11:30 remaining.  Georgetown responded quickly with a pair of goals in a nine second span to cut the lead to 8-5.  The two teams traded goals, before Katie Brewer and Amanda Phillips notched back-to-back goals to give UC an 11-6 lead.  The Tigers scored two unanswered goals before the end of the half to cut the lead to 11-8 at the break.

Tullar takes the opening draw control of the second half and puts a free position shot past the goalie to make it 12-8.  Georgetown battled back scoring five of the next six goals to tie the game at 13-13 ten minutes into the second half.  The score remained that way until the 16:31 mark when Jessica Truelove scooped a ground ball, raced up field, and found Makoski for the go-ahead goal.  The Tigers recorded two of the next three goals to even the score at 15-15 with 10:57 left.  Cumberlands responded on their next possession as Tullar found a cutting Heim, who put a shot into the upper corner of the cage for a goal to give UC a 16-15 lead.  Heim and Tullar each recorded a goal to extend the Patriots lead to 18-15 with 6:17 remaining.  Georgetown cut the lead to 18-16, however that was the closest the came as Emily Crump stopped an Annamaria Meredith shot as one of her nine saves.

Leading the way for the Patriots was Tullar who finished with five goals, three assists, and 10 draw controls.  Heim added a career-high four goals to go along with two assists and three draw controls.  Phillips chipped in three points.  Truelove led the team with three ground balls and pair of caused turnovers.

In addition to winning the tournament title, Tullar was named the 2018 AAC Women's Lacrosse Tournament MVP.  Heim, Phillips, and Briana Kucis were also named to the all-tournament team.   

The Patriots will now await the selection show for NAIA Women's Lacrosse Invitational on April 29 at 4 p.m. on www.naia.org.  The NAIA Invitational will take place May 8-12 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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