Violent act gains national attention (E. Lambert of UNM)

[Sigaba]

Video is here.

Source is here.

Violent act gains national attention
By Mario Trujillo | DAILY LOBO

Lobo soccer player Elizabeth Lambert snuck her attacks past officials for the majority of the game against BYU on Thursday. But what the officials missed, a national audience and nearly 3.4 million viewers on YouTube clearly saw.

Head coach Kit Vela suspended Lambert indefinitely on Friday, and the Mountain West Conference jumped into an investigation of the overall dynamics of the game after Lambert threw punches and pulled the hair of her opponents during the semifinal match in Provo, Utah.

“Liz is a quality student-athlete, but in this instance her actions clearly crossed the line of fair play and good sportsmanship,” Vela said.

Lambert faces a punishment from the MWC ranging from a one-game suspension to a season suspension for her first instance of physical abuse, according to the MWC handbook.

The game against BYU was the Lobos’ first nationally televised game of the season.
Lambert couldn’t have picked a worse day to act out.

She inflicted the harshest attack on BYU forward Kassidy Shumway. Lambert yanked down on Shumway’s ponytail, sending her to the turf where she lay for several seconds.
“I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions,” Lambert said in a statement Friday. “My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration.”

She let her emotions get the best of her on a second, third and fourth occasion before she was finished.

Lambert threw a punch to the back of BYU forward Carlee Payne after Payne elbowed Lambert in the stomach.

Later, Payne and Lambert exchanged blows in midair.

Finally, with four minutes left in the game, Lambert tripped a BYU player. Officials penalized Lambert with a yellow card on that play — the only penalty Lambert received. It was also the only penalty given to either team.

Lambert apologized to the BYU team, and said her actions were not indicative of her character.

Through Lambert’s 2,589 minutes on the field over three years, she has been hit with a yellow card three times — all of them in the last three weeks. She received her first in the final game of the regular season against UNLV and her second in the first round of the conference tournament against Wyoming.

BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said the match Thursday was physical, and play is determined by what the officials will allow.

“I think that is kind of the officials’ job. They set the tone,” Rockwood said. “They are the ones that have control of the game.”

But Rockwood made it clear that she was not condoning Lambert’s actions.

“There has to be a level of sportsmanship,” Rockwood said. “(Hair pulling) is not a legal play, but there are a lot of things that go on that are missed.”

Rockwood, shying away from talking about the specific incidents, said her team managed to play on through Lambert’s actions.

“Soccer at the Division I level is very physical,” Rockwood said. “Some games are more physical than others, and like I tell my players, we just need not to react when those things happen and make sure we do the best that we can. Both Carlee and Kassidy continued on with the game and really tried hard to not let that affect their play.”

Still, Athletics Director Paul Krebs said Lambert’s actions were reprehensible.

“Liz’s conduct on the field against BYU was completely inappropriate,” Krebs said in a statement. “There is no way to defend her actions.”

A former Lobo soccer player, who played with Lambert and asked to remain nameless, said that the incidents have been over-hyped, and the majority of people don’t understand the nature of soccer.

“It is one of the bigger contact sports for women outside of rugby,” the former teammate said. “In soccer there are no instant replays or player views. And it is not that I necessarily condone what she did, but a lot of that stuff goes on, more so than people think.”

And a lot happens in the referees’ blind spots, she said, but it’s usually not broadcast.

“I don’t want to give away any tricks of the trade,” the former Lobo said. “But I think when you are out there you think ‘if the refs don’t see me, it’s not going to be a problem.’ And now the media caught her for it, and now she is paying for it.”

Lambert’s former teammate described her as a forceful player who usually has more sense.

“She is a hard hitter,” the former teammate said. “She is aggressive. She is extremely strong. And she doesn’t back down to anyone — even around teammates when we are playing against her. But she is typically really smart.”

And Thursday’s actions against BYU can’t rest solely on Lambert’s shoulders, the source said.

“(BYU) is a fun team to play against because they aren’t the cheaper of the teams and don’t take those cheap hits,” she said. “From what I have gotten from people, it was a pretty cheap game.”

[LongTabSigO]

She's a thug and will soon be featured in either cage fighting or the WWE....

[Richard]

It was on the morning news programs and she was being soundly excoriated.

Richard

[Razor]

I don’t want to give away any tricks of the trade,” the former Lobo said. “But I think when you are out there you think ‘if the refs don’t see me, it’s not going to be a problem.’

And there's the crux of the problem. Character is what you do when no one else is looking.

[Paslode]

Ladies can be extremely vicious competitors...just plain mean. Regardless, there is no room for that type of conduct.

[SF0]

Lambert apologized to the BYU team, and said her actions were not indicative of her character.

I hate when people say that. If not actions, what is? Words?

[Utah Bob]

The Marine recruiter called her this morning.

[Bill Harsey]

I will not make any comment about the license plate recently discussed on this forum because for the record that was not funny. maybe.

[incarcerated]

Originally Posted by Razor

And there's the crux of the problem. Character is what you do when no one else is looking.

Disagree. This is the sport: decades of FIFA tinkering with rules interpretations have dumbed down the performance of the officials. The result is Roller Derby. The people I know who love the sport agree that the referees are destroying the game.

Soccer at the Division I level is very poorly controlled, often by refs who are in over their heads. The local D1 school provides the referees with a police escort from the field after every game, and this with crowds of about 70 to 110 people.

When you see an officiating goof in the NBA, an enormous deal is made of it. Be thankful. When they review plays in the NFL, know that the people who run the sport have the good sense to keep it from degenerating into soccer. Pray that MLB adopts replay/review. In soccer, breathtaking referee blunders are commonplace. Until you've watched a European Cup Championship game (the height of international club soccer: what should be the sport at its best) punctuated by fouls and referee atrocities every ninety seconds like clockwork (Juventus v Real Madrid 1998), you'll have no idea how far your sport can degenerate. In the modern game, especially in America, violence equips the inferior player to compete with the talented player. Soccer will never be adopted as a major league sport in this country as long as the level of officiating keeps the game in the Bush Leagues.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by incarcerated

Disagree. This is the sport: decades of FIFA tinkering with rules interpretations have dumbed down the performance of the officials. The result is Roller Derby. The people I know who love the sport agree that the referees are destroying the game.

Soccer at the Division I level is very poorly controlled, often by refs who are in over their heads. The local D1 school provides the referees with a police escort from the field after every game, and this with crowds of about 70 to 110 people.

This is a reason, not an excuse. It wasn't a referee or an official from FIFA pulling hair and throwing forearms in the game. It was Elizabeth Lambert.

The Mountain West Conference, of which the University of New Mexico is a member, clearly lays out guidelines for sporting conduct in Rule Four of the MWC Handbook. That rule is available here. A quick search of the MWC's website reveals the conference strictly enforcing Rule Four across a number of sports. Search results are here.

Moreover, the NCAA, for all its many faults, also emphasizes sporting conduct. The NCAA's website for sporting conduct is here. The NCAA's rules for Women's soccer are here. Rule changes for the 2008-2009 season are here.

Rule 5 covers the conduct of officials. Rule 12, especially pages 71-73 and Rules 12.12, 12.14, and 12.15 (UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR), page 77, cover much of Ms. Lambert's conduct.

While the language of Rule 5 gives credence to the argument that NCAA soccer referees need better training, the Points of Emphasis on page 7 clearly indicate in unmistakable language that players, teams, and coaches are to observe the rules even if officials fail to perform their duties competently.

Finally, the University of New Mexico has a code of conduct for undergraduate students. That code is available here. The code states clearly:

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Adopted by the UNM Regents April 14, 1992
Revision approved by the Regents May 12, 1995

It is important for all students to be aware of conduct that will lead to disciplinary action by the University. In order to clarify the types of conduct which shall be considered to affect adversely the University’s educational function, to disrupt community living on campus, or to interfere with the rights of others to pursue their education, to conduct their University duties and responsibilities or to participate in University activities, the Board of Regents hereby adopts the following Code of Conduct for students:
1.SCOPE

The University may take disciplinary action for an offense against the Code of Conduct when the offense occurs on University premises or at University-sponsored events, or when an offense which occurs off campus is such that in the judgment of the Dean of Students,1 failure to take disciplinary action is likely to interfere with the educational process or the orderly operation of the University, or endanger the health, safety or welfare of the University community.

The term "student" includes both full-time and part-time students pursuing undergraduate, graduate or professional studies.
2. MATTERS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Appropriate disciplinary procedures and sanctions shall be applied to any student who commits, or attempts to commit, any of the following acts of misconduct:
2.1. Actions which have great potential for physically harming the person or property of others, including that of the University, or which actually result in physical harm, or which cause reasonable apprehension of physical harm.

In short, Ms. Lambert had at least four layers of guidance from three different sources on how to conduct herself. But no, FIFA and the officials-- not Ms. Lambert--are responsible for the choices she made.

[afchic]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

This is a reason, not an excuse. It wasn't a referee or an official from FIFA pulling hair and throwing forearms in the game. It was Elizabeth Lambert.

The Mountain West Conference, of which the University of New Mexico is a member, clearly lays out guidelines for sporting conduct in Rule Four of the MWC Handbook. That rule is available here. A quick search of the MWC's website reveals the conference strictly enforcing Rule Four across a number of sports. Search results are here.

Moreover, the NCAA, for all its many faults, also emphasizes sporting conduct. The NCAA's website for sporting conduct is here. The NCAA's rules for Women's soccer are here. Rule changes for the 2008-2009 season are here.

Rule 5 covers the conduct of officials. Rule 12, especially pages 71-73 and Rules 12.12, 12.14, and 12.15 (UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR), page 77, cover much of Ms. Lambert's conduct.

While the language of Rule 5 gives credence to the argument that NCAA soccer referees need better training, the Points of Emphasis on page 7 clearly indicate in unmistakable language that players, teams, and coaches are to observe the rules even if officials fail to perform their duties competently.

Finally, the University of New Mexico has a code of conduct for undergraduate students. That code is available here. The code states clearly:In short, Ms. Lambert had at least four layers of guidance from three different sources on how to conduct herself. But no, FIFA and the officials-- not Ms. Lambert--are responsible for the choices she made.

Sigaba, I am going to have to disagree and go with incarcerated on this one. Is the girl reponsible for her own actions, of course she is. Should she be held accountable for her own actions, most definintely.

With that being said, the referees are the ones responsible for the tempo of a game. Having played for over 25 years, at various levels along the way, and reffed, I have seen referees let a game get out of control. If a ref is going to call a very loose game, the players are going to take advantage. I have seen more injuries due to refs not controlling the game, than I care to count, and many of them serious.

If a ref calls a tight game, the infractions decrease exponentially. If they don't, players feel they can get away with actions such as what Ms. Lambert displayed. Poor sportsmanship on her part yes, but my bet is she got away with, what she could get away with, because the refs allowed the game to degenerate to that point, and she new she wouldn't get caught/penalized

[akv]

Originally Posted by Paslode

Ladies can be extremely vicious competitors...just plain mean. Regardless, there is no room for that type of conduct.

I had the opportunity to coach a women's powder puff flag football game back in school. The girl's were so vicious towards one another, we had to stop the game and remind them scratching, kicking, and tripping are not part of the game. It seemed women in competitive situations escalate faster than men?

[afchic]

Originally Posted by akv

I had the opportunity to coach a women's powder puff flag football game back in school. The girl's were so vicious towards one another, we had to stop the game and remind them scratching, kicking, and tripping are not part of the game. It seemed women in competitive situations escalate faster than men?

Have you ever seen a women's rugby game??? We were so nasty the guys wouldn't play with us. I still have a visible scar on my forehead from 22 stiches I got during a head butting incident in a ruck.

We all used to wear the same color nail polish so that in a ruck we knew who we were scratching

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by afchic

Have you ever seen a women's rugby game??? We were so nasty the guys wouldn't play with us. I still have a visible scar on my forehead from 22 stiches I got during a head butting incident in a ruck.

We all used to wear the same color nail polish so that in a ruck we knew who we were scratching

You are one bad ass chic,I'll never play rugby with you..........

Big Teddy

[PedOncoDoc]

Originally Posted by afchic

Have you ever seen a women's rugby game??? We were so nasty the guys wouldn't play with us. I still have a visible scar on my forehead from 22 stiches I got during a head butting incident in a ruck.

We all used to wear the same color nail polish so that in a ruck we knew who we were scratching

I have a friend who was a hooker in college - she has many similar stories.

Edited to add:
The hooker to which I refer is a position in rugby - I realized not everyone here follows the sport and may question the company I kept in college.