In the NCAA Women’s Soccer West Conference semifinal game, Elizabeth Lambert of New Mexico played too roughly against BYU.
Physical contact is part of every soccer game, but Lambert seemed to hurt every player that was near her. She really crossed the line when she pulled the hair of one of the BYU players, snapping her head back in the process.
Maybe Lambert was frustrated that her team was scoreless.
BYU won, 1-0, and advanced to the finals.
Here’s the video of Lambert’s unsportsmanlike conduct:
[via phillyburbs.com]
That’s soccer, folks — if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!
If you look closely, Lambert was provoked. No.21 knew what she was doing when she grabbed her shorts. That’s the reaction you get!
I am a female soccer player myself, and I agree — it does get pretty rough out there. You definitely get into the game and feel like throwing some punches.
I’ve had girls on my team bite other girls. This is a bit excessive, though. Apparently, she never learned how to foul cleanly and not let the other team get into your head. I’m glad BYU won.
Lambert was obviously way out of line, but what about her coach who allowed her player to continue with this behavior?
This is apparently the third game in a row where Lambert’s actions crossed the line. Maybe that is how she was taught?
Regadless of what happened, if women are to be treated fairly in football (I’m from the UK, so it is football here not soccer) then any action should be handled with the same punishment as the men. In this case, it is dangerous or violent play, and should be a three-match ban, five at most.
The fact that the referee didn’t give anything during the game doesn’t matter. As video evidence is used a lot in the game now.
I don’t agree that the opposition was winding her up. Come on! Pulling someone’s shorts is a lot different to yanking someone’s ponytail.
I haven’t seen the whole game, simply the video highlights doing the rounds on the many sites on the Internet. However, she was doing a lot of fouling in the game, and don’t forget the face slap she gave the No.7 player who was pointing something out to her. Either there’s a video camera over there, or we’ll take a hissy fit over there after the game.
Still, she’s famous all over the world now, but for all the wrong reasons.
Football, eh. It’s more than just a game
Oh, my gosh! Lambert should be banned and put in prison. If she was in Singapore, she will be caned and locked in prison maybe for 15-20 years.
I can’t believe the outrage. The worst thing she did was pull the girl’s hair. Boo hoo. The rest? All part of the game.
She was getting stuck in. And while some of her tackling could be viewed as somewhat agricultural, she’s certainly not the monster that most people — who’ve never played competitive sport, least of all (soccer) football — are making her out to be.
If I was starting a team, she’s the sort of player I’d want on it.
Hey, we need women in the military front line. Draft her! As far as sports go, this ain’t it.