I don’t usually give the women’s game much space here, and maybe I’ve been remiss. I’ve got a four-year-old girl and I’ll probably end up a Soccer Dad someday. But I’m holding on to this story and video to show her how she damn well better NOT act on the field.
By now you may have seen or at least heard of New Mexico women’s soccer defender Elizabeth Lambert, who got suspended indefinitely for some clearly dirty play, maybe the worst of it yanking down an opponent by her ponytail.
But that sure wasn’t all, as the junior was caught on video kicking, tackling recklessly, throwing a forearm shiver to the back, and even tossing BYU’s Kassidy Shumway to the turf by her ponytail. That’s just wrong. And after all that, the ref still didn’t send her off, handing her a meaningless 76th-minute yellow for tripping, of all things.
She apologized yesterday, saying she was “deeply and wholeheartedly regretful.” But I’m wondering what do you think the punishment should have been? Would you have been able to turn the other cheek, like the BYU girls all did? What would you have done if she was abusing your teammates like that? Or if she’d BEEN your teammate? I’m curious….