mormonsandscience

Agreed, the ref did let it go too far. As far as hockey is concerned, well that is entirely a different matter. My favorite phrase is, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out."

#7 deserved everything she got, she intentionally elbowed, illegal grabbed and side stepped #15. #21 tugged on #15's shorts (illegal) and also previously verbally harassed her.

Yes #15 was extremely aggressive, and she should not have acted in that kind of way. But it should be noted that it was all aggravated by BYU's team.

BYU has a history of harassing and foul-playing other teams, not just in Soccer. Do a search of BYU sports, lots of schools dislike playing BYU because of their nasty reputation on the field. Not sure how they are off the field, probably pretty decent citizens.

Overall, really horrible event that downplayed both teams. The actions taken on the girl were well-met, her aggression was obviously overboard. I don't side with either team. Both were ridiculous and the refs should be fired for letting this continue. Both teams should have been carded but neither were, so it escalated.

UNM will soon share the same perception (sports-wise) as BYU soon, as a result of this.

No one will want to play UNM, just as no one wants to play with BYU.

It is a sad fate for both universities since their academics (at both schools) are pretty decent.

Overall, horrible school-controlled athletics by both institutions.

JJ,
I don't know enough about BYU's reputation on the field to comment.

I personally think that 7 deserved a punch in the back after elbowing 15 (tit for tat).

Moving in close to other players to taunt them is pretty normal as is the jersey grabbing, although the ref could have been more proactive (e.g., telling the girls to stop it or he will call a penalty the next time it happens).

Things crossed the line when NM's 15 pulled hair and punched 7 in the face. The expert commentator Julie Foudy seemed to agree.

Wow. She got what she deserved. The byu player deserved a penalty for the elbow, but Eliz. Lambert is a bully bad sport. And yes, where were the refs.?? When there is risk for real injury to a player, not just emotional playing, they should've red carded immediately. The refs should be reprimanded also for their lack of officiating. This is inexcusable. Again, what kind of example is this sending to the younger players? Hopefully, in the end, it will be to play clean or pay a very hefty price. The league needs to come down hard on her, the team coaches, and refs. for allowing it to happen!!

The short video clip available here certainly shows UNM's #15 in a bad light. I think it also shows BYU's #7 and #21 in a bad light- they provoked a response, and got more than they expected it when it came. It would be interesting to have seen the rest of the game, and to know the history of prior meetings between the teams. As a parent, I've told my son, and my daughter, not to put up with intimidation by other players. If the Ref won't make a call, you have to stand up for yourself. As a player, if an opponent grabbed my crotch, there is no telling what I'd do. Pulling a pony tail might be the most reasonable response. One thing for sure, people will think twice about messing with Lambert again. Coaches who recommend trash talking and other ways of getting into an opponents' head need to beware- you don't really know what will happen, and you might get somebody hurt. Yeah, Lambert got kicked off the team, and BYU is in the Final. Was that result worth ruining a young woman's soccer career and risking a significant neck injury? I'm not saying Lambert's punishment is too severe. I am saying I hope the players remember you poke a hornets' nest, you might get stung...

I heard great arguments from both sides; I didn't see the whole game so I really can't make a complete educated opinion... However, if the other team was doing some trash talking, then they need to take the consequences to their actions. Same goes for Lambert, she needs to know how to keep her head in the game and not get bullied by some petty name calling. One can only take so much before they react with violence. Which I am sure was the desired response and happens in all sports; it’s a tactic and if it can be used to an advantage then it will be used. Remember the 2006 World Cup? You can only take so much taunting before you head butt someone in the chest.

WAIT! I'm confused! So it wasn't just one New Mexico player who needs anger management? It was one NM player doing rudee things to MULTIPLE byu players and the byu players did some stuff back? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Here is the analysis of what we see:
first clip - Although the elbow by #7 is a cheapshot, tough to see as a ref, the punch is unwarranted here, I'd warn the elbow, red card the punch.
second clip - blatant foul here, maybe a yellow card, on #21! She is clearly on the ground using her arm and body to block #15. I see no sign of #15 going after anything but ball.
Third clip - #7 has control of the ball, notice how she jumps across the ball, she may have gone too far and not be playing the ball, #15 clearly fouls here though, dangerous tackle.
Fourth clip - hard to tell, #21 seems to be throwing her body into the play, I can't tell.
Fifth clip - #21 grabs the shorts of #15, yellow card if I see it, hair pull - red card. Looks like #21 doing a little extra acting on this, could be a delay of game.
Sixth clip - Tripping by #13, lazy D, I would have given a yellow card. Ball kicked in the face? This was not intentional and I seriously doubt this was the cause of the yellow card as stated by the announcer. It looks like #13 is getting the yellow, with #15 mouthing off. I don't tolerate the mouthing off at all. Immediate warning.
Final clip - I didn't see "swings both ways" I only saw #15 with blatant punches, immediate red card. I have no explanation other than incompetence for why the ref missed this one.
Extra clip (not on this tape) shows BYU #7 taunting #15. Good thing I didn't hear it, I get right down on stuff like that.

When I saw the dive after the ponytail pull I started to suspect something was going on. She spent a great deal of time on the ground. Didn't hop up mad, didn't writhe on the ground, was she setting up #15? Where did this carefully edited tape come from? Why were there all of these closeup off the ball camera shots? I'm betting #15 has a reputation and BYU was setting her up on film. I'd like to see the full game. I'm betting there was all kinds of baiting by BYU. Also, if #15 had a reputation that means her coach knew about and didn't care to do anything about.

Bottom line - a good coach teaches the players not to cheat. A good ref makes a hack player pay for it by keeping a handle on this behavior. Award enough free kicks and the hack player really hurts their team. Even the stupidest coach catches on and takes the hacker out.

She's hot, I'd date her.

the way the video is put together is very misleading to watch. Proref seems to think that #13 is getting the yellow card for tripping when in fact the card is for #15. #13 steps between #15 and the ref to keep her teammate from receiving a red card on top of the yellow for mouthing off to the ref. It's too bad that the video does not show blatant fouls on the other side too.