Comments about ‘BYU soccer: Y. wins rough-and-tumble tussle’

KSL News in its 10:00 p.m. news broadcast showed footage of New Mexico's Elizabeth Lambert (#15):

--Grabbing the pony tail of a BYU forward from behind and viciously yanking the player's head back, hard enough to pull her feet out from under her and put her flat on the ground. This was done on a dead ball, with the two players not anywhere near the ball.
--Slugging a BYU player from behind in the back, again done on a dead ball, with the two players not anywhere near the ball.

Unfortunately, the referee didn't see either assault. Please note I used the word "assault." That's what it was.

I am not a BYU fan. I was merely watching the 10:00 o'clock news. I am a soccer enthusiast and love the game.

I hope that the coach of New Mexico's women's soccer team, Kit Vela, has a talk with Ms. Lambert before she purposefully breaks a rib or paralyzes another player by jerking her head back like that.

New Mexico's #15 was out of control and either New Mexico or the MWC needs to discipline here. On another note, any news on the severity of the ankle injury to Jessica Ringwood?

The game has mad national news headlines on espn.

I am a BYU fan but you obviously missed the elbow thrown by the BYU player that prompted the hit to the back. It was retaliation but BYU's player got what she deserved.

The MWC will have no choice but to come down on players for the amazing, intentional attempts to hurt players. Without the mtn. taping the game she might have got away with it. ESPN shows and comments on it? NO chance now.

ESPN has it on the main page. I could not believe what I saw done by the NM players. The video didn't show any cheap-shots by the BYU players so we don't know if there was nothing done by them, or if the video was biased. Nevertheless, unsportsmanlike to say the LEAST. Wow. Some serious consequences need to come from that and not just a talking to. It would be a hate crime if done off the field.

Oh please 'BYU Fan' she nudged her and the girl reeled back and punched her. And that was only one of about ten incidences. Don't be a fool.

re BYU Fan--The elbow was used when bodying up and backing up; similar to what you see in basketball games to get position when posting up on a player. that is all rough play in the normal couse of a physical game. But to repeatedly use your closed fist to punch someone in the back (I saw this happen at least 4x in the second half and it may have happened more but I didn't start paying close attention until I saw it happen a couple times)is completely outside the rough play you expect in a high stakes game. And the throwdown by the ponytail...WOW... I was speechless when it happened, and seeing replayed this morning on espn and fox news the MWC has no choice now but to step in and discipline the player, the coach and the team. This is very quickly becoming a high profile story on many networks. Harsh punishment will no doubt meted out quickly.

Of course the BYU players were jawing too, it always happens in soccer. But nothing came close to what #15 did. She should be suspended for games next season and the ref in that game needs to be fired.

Wow, I just checked out the video on ESPN (well done on their part - full coverage and analysis). What an embarrassment for this girl, the school and the coach. She is completely singled out for her despicable behavior. What an embarrassment. You know it has to be bad for ESPN to pick up on it for a college women's soccer conference semi-final. Take a look, there is a lot more than just 1 incident.

The 'BYU Fan' is obviously not a soocer fan. You are allowed to jockey for position (what the BYU player wa doing). You are not allowed to wind up and throw a punch. She went all night too. ESPN had about tree minutes of footage and you know they didn't catch all she did on camera. The MTN's article says nothing about the rogue player. I hope they address this.

get position is part of the game (and it was a pretty soft little elbow). I played in college I know, but punching someone then grabbing another player by her ponytail and throwing her to the ground -- these plays are over the line. Plus how many fouls (hard fouls I might add) did this same player commit. She also is on film throwing another punch while she is committing another foul. This girl needs to be suspended from conference games next season.

I was watching espn last night and saw that byu girl get ripped down by her ponytail. Haha what a joke! that girl deserves to be suspended indefinitely.

If serious action isn't taken against New Mexico's Elizabeth Lambert for what she did it will be a black mark on the game.Why would I want my daughter to play a sport where that type of brutal play is allowed?
Let's stop it now!

I saw clips on ESPN and Fox News this morning and couldn't believe what I was watching. This girl (Lambert) has some real problems--bad home life or something, but she needs to be in therapy not on a soccer field. I've played soccer, it's a rough game, but that was just crazy.

I agree with a suspension of #15 next season and there needs to be a public apology from UNM to the girls on BYU. But also the MWC needs to address the missed calls and the refs that let the game get out of hand. A dirty player will do whatever they can get away with and the refs need to take some of the blame.

I, too, just watched the ESPN clip. Unbelievable! #15 should be sanctioned. What a thug!

I googled University of New Mexico's Office of the President for a contact number and called the President of the University to make sure he knew UNM was being featured across the nation on ESPN in this light.

The individual who fielded the telephone call indicated they had received MANY phone calls this morning about the ESPN footage, and callers had expressed outrage and concern about the out-of-control play of #15, Elizabeth Lambert. I guess we'll see if any action is taken by the university to punish this player and her coach.

I have a new-found respect for the women on our soccer team. This is absolutely deplorable behavior by UNM. I'm writing a letter to MWC Commissioner Craig Thomson tonight. I hope others will join me and express their outrage at an utter lack of sportsmanship by UNM. Did their football coach teach them those tricks?

Soccer can get pretty physical, but this was just dirty. This is a huge black eye for the MWC as it's now making national headlines on ESPN and Fox News. I don't know that New Mexico will make the NCAA tournament so this was probably their last game, but even if this #15 is a soph or jr. she should be suspended for next season or just kicked off the team altogether. Throwing elbows is one thing, but throwing punches and yanking another girl to the ground by her hair should be grounds for some action by the school or the conference.

Un-Believable! Considering the beating that the BYU players were taking they showed amazing composure. MWC should take disciplinary action on #15.