All-Decade Team: Women's Lacrosse

Williamsburg, KY – The UC Athletic Department has built a strong reputation as a premier school in the NAIA and over the past decade, the Patriots welcomed seven new programs, which has expanded its total number of sports offered to 30. In 2014, Cumberlands embarked on adding its fourth & fifth sports on the new decade, men’s and women’s lacrosse, which began competition during the 2015-16 season. In just five years, the Patriots have built the program into a perennial power within the NAIA capturing two regular-season titles, two conference tournament titles, a pair of national championship berths, countless top-ten rankings and a 59-18 program record.  The Patriots' success has come in part of having a slew of talented players that have garnered countless honors at both the conference and national level. The women’s lacrosse team has recorded an NAIA National Player of the Year, 13 NAIA All-Americans, two conference players of the year, three freshmen of the years, a pair of AAC Defensive Players of the Year, 26 All-Conference selections, and four NAIA All-Tournament honors. With all of these accomplishments, the one athlete that represents the women’s lacrosse program on UC’S All-Decade Team is Samantha Tullar.

Tullar is one of the most decorated athletes in program history and is the program’s all-time leader in five statistical categories, including goals (282), points (375), and draw controls (311). Tullar is a two-time Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year, the 2018 NAIA Player of the Year, a two-time All-American, the 2017 AAC Freshman of the Year, and a two-time AAC All-Conference selection. The Randolph Center, VT native was also the 2018 AAC Tournament MVP and was named the NAIA All-Tournament Team later that season.  Tullar has led the NAIA in goals and points in three of the past four years and helped the Patriots to their first AAC regular season and tournament title as well as their first berth to the NAIA National Invitational.

Tullar made an impact from the first time dawned the red and navy in spring 2017 as she recorded 98 goals, 20 assists, and 109 draw controls en route to helping UC to its first ten-win season in program history. In her Patriot debut, Tullar netted seven goals, two assists, and eight draw controls in the season-opening win over Erskine.  Two games later, the freshman added six goals including the game-winner in overtime as UC knocked off Charleston 15-14 in overtime.  Tullar netted at least six goals in 11 games, including a season-high 8 goals twice.  The Randolph Center, VT native post a season-best game on April 8, 2017, when she recorded 8 goals, 11 points, and a career-high/program-record 16 draw controls in the win over Truett-McConnell.  Cumberlands finished the year with an 11-6 overall record, earning the second-seed in the AAC tournament, and also post the program’s first win over a ranked opponent when they defeated Columbia 11-10 in overtime. For her efforts, Tullar was named the AAC Player of the Year, AAC Freshman of the Year, and was an AAC First Team All-Conference selection. Tullar was an NAIA First Team All-American alongside Becan Hennighan, making the duo the first All-Americans in program history.

The 2018 season was one for the record books as the Patriots set program records for wins (20), first undefeated conference season (9-0), first conference and tournament title, and first national tournament appearance.  Not only did the Patriot re-write the program record book, but Tullar also etched her name in the record book for most goals (118), points (169), ground balls (52), and draw controls (140). The sophomore netted at least six goals in a game nine times finished with at least 10 points in six games and scooped 10+ ground balls three times.  UC opened the season on a nine-game win streak, which saw Tullar record at least ten points four times, including a season 14 points against Missouri Baptist. The sophomore averaged 5.0 goals and 7.2 points in conference play to help Cumberlands capture their first AAC regular-season title and the top-seed in the AAC Tournament. For her efforts, Tullar was named the AAC Players of the Year, making her the only player to be named AAC Player of the Year twice, and was a First Team All-Conference selection. The sophomore followed up her regular season with 12 goals, 16 points, and 16 draw controls as the Patriots captured the AAC Tournament title with an 18-16 win over Georgetown. Tullar was named the MVP of the tournament and was an all-tournament selection. The Randolph Center, VT native notched nine goals, four assists, and five draw controls in UC’s opening round win over Siena Heights and finished the NAIA tournament with 13 goals and 17 points.  Tullar capped off her season by being named the NAIA Player of the Year, a First-Team NAIA All-American, and selected to the NAIA All-Tournament Team.

Tullar looked to continue her strong play in the 2019 season, averaging 5.25 goals and 6.75 points per game through the first four games before missing the remainder of the season.  The junior opened the season with six goals, four assists, and 10 points in UC’s win over Cleary. Tullar finished the season with 21 goals, 27 points, and 20 draw controls on the year.

The redshirt junior returned to form during the 2020 season, notching 45 goals, 16 assists, 61 points, and 42 draw controls in UC’s first eight games before the season was abruptly canceled.  Tullar netted at least five goals in seven of the eight games, including tying her career-high with nine goals against Missouri Valley.  She also added six goals, and an assist in the Patriots 14-13 win over sixth-ranked Lawrence Tech, which was one of Cumberlands four wins over ranked opponents on the year.  In what turned out to be the final game of the season, Tullar notched six goals, three assists, and nine points in the 16-11 win over #2 Benedictine to improve to 8-0 for the second time in program history.  Tullar finished the year leading the NAIA in goals and points.

Tullar graduated from UC in May 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Tullar is remaining at UC to begin her master's degree this fall and will return to the field for the Patriots for the 2021 season.

The UC All-Decade Team was determined based on stats, awards & honors received, and significance to the program in addition to input for members of the UC Athletic Department. It will include one representative from every sport and be comprised of 29 student-athletes. The all-decade team looked at everything from the 2010-2011 season through the 2019-2020 season.