Elizabeth Lambert, the New Mexico University soccer player that has been making headlines today for her aggressive tactics, has been suspended from playing soccer indefinitely. Her conduct during NMU's game against BYU has gone viral, with videos of Lambert punching, kicking, and pulling an opposing player's ponytail -nearly snapping her neck- all over the internet. Although Lambert has since apologized, many are appalled by her actions, and rightfully so.
Go ahead and watch the video below and see what Lambert does that's gotten the country (and world) talking. She takes foul play to a whole new level with punches to the back, elbows to the face, kicking a ball into the face of an opponent, and ends it with the most shocking move - pulling the ponytail of an opponent so forcefully that the girl's head snaps back and she is taken to the ground. The opponent, Kassidy Shumway, is seen laying on the field, crying, and you can't blame her! It had to hurt!
Naturally Lambert apologized afterwards, saying that her emotions got the better of her. "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. This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am. I am sorry to my coaches and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon them.
"I am especially sorry to BYU and the BYU women's soccer players that were personally affected by my actions. I have the utmost respect for the BYU women's soccer program and its players."
Given her actions on the field, it's pretty clear that there was no way New Mexico University could even try to gloss it over. Paul Krebs, NMU's vice president for athletics said, "Liz's conduct on the field against BYU was completely inappropriate. There is no way to defend her actions." Yeah, you can say that again.
This kind of behavior is typical, if not expected, by male athletes but is likely not as unusual as we may believe among female athletes. The fact that cameras were rolling has undoubtedly helped escalate this incident into the forefront, as we now have the pleasure of viewing the incident as often as we like (come on, you know you cringe everytime you see Shumway's ponytail yanked!). Surely Lambert's not the most aggressive female athlete out there, so it possible that aggression in female athletics might become a trend?
Sources: ESPN, Deadspin
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Comments
Not that it matters a whole lot, but just to make a correction in the article, she wasn't the player who actually kicked the ball into the face an opponent. She tripped the opponent which led to one of her teammates kicking the ball in the opponent's face.
ya that makes it so much better
She was clearly provoked!!!!
watch the entire footage, she was elbowed in the stomach and the other player was grabbing her crotch
Why wasn't she arrested and charged with assault?
This is the most violent type football we've ever seen.
This girl is a disgrace to all young women athletes,I can't believe what she did.
I don't like BYU but I'm so sorry that this happened. That New Mexico girl really needs professional help to help her deal with her anger management issues.
honestly, i hope this girl gets what she has coming to her! the way she plays, its like pure hate! and serioulsy i feel the only way shell learn her lesson, is to be treated the same way. i hope i see her on the street so i can pull her hair like that!
What a nasty, mean spirited girl. This is wrong for college ports
I want to marry her.
Elizabeth hope you don't come back!
Provoked? The girl is a dirty little cheat. I played soccer at university back home in California in the 1980s and have played for semi-professional teams in California, England and Ireland and her antics are appalling, some of the worse I have seen, and I have seen a lot.
It's sad to see this kind of behavior in the college level. And the worst part of it all is that more than one dirty tactic was seen through the lens. She should be banned for life and go into professional wrestling.
Soccer is a tough game but this girl is a hack and doesn't belong on the soccer pitch.
what a sexist final paragraph. This behavior isn't appropriate no matter your gender. I hope UNM does the right thing and keeps her off the field.
Yeah, go ahead and let her play again......this little c opened a huge can of worms that will probably haunt her for a while.
will you americans please stop playing this game, players like her give the sport a bad name.
This has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the fact that these egregious acts were perpetrated by a woman. It's that it is so blatant and severe--particularly the semi-neck snapping incident. I was appalled when Florida's Spikes tried to gouge a player's eyes out last weekend--that wasn't warranted at all. The fact that Spikes only got a 1/2 game suspensions and that he himself extended it to a full game is ludicrous. He should be suspended indefinitely. As for Ms. Lambert, don't try and go into the whole gender stereotypes lame argument. It doesn't matter if this is a man or woman, the fact that it these were overtly acted, blatant actions that could have killed another player warrant severe, harsh, and enduring repercussions. DO NOT make this an issue of gender because that is just a smokescreen to hide behind rather than getting at the heart of the issue--that being that she obviously has issues and the refs need lessons to officiating.
It seems like our values have been lost everywhere. She has brought back the Tonya Harding incident. She has no business playing soccer or any other sport.
Shouldn't the ref's be sanctioned as well? Their lack of attention allowed this to continue for the whole game. The man in charge obviously wasn't.
Any NCAA athlete with this type of repeated horrific behavior should be removed from the team. Allowing this player to continue is saying the behavior is okay in competetive sports. It is not!!!!
I don't care if it is womens sports or men! She is an embarrassment! I would kick her off of the team for good. With absolutely NO chance to play NCAA ever! She is old enough to know better. WHere is that line she crossed?! Look again at that video she knows what the hell she is doing. I would like to spit in her face. And get down to her level for a moment!!! I honestly doubt she has ever learned a lesson. Tonya Harding all over again!! Refs? Where the hell were you? Good job camera person -- it is about time this horrible person was cuaght! Love the part where she tries to play little miss innocent - "yellow card who me? what did I do"! There are so many people that allowed this during this game!! SHame!!!!
Now that she has had her 15 minutes, let's hope she cannot turn it to her advantage by interviews, TV etc. I do not care about her gender, this young woman is a shame and disgrace to any sport. She should be banned from NCAA, and it really does not matter if she was provoked (I really did not see anything so terrible that would warrant her behavior in spite), her actions were more than just reactionary, they were outrageous and yes, bordering on the criminal (assault). Anybody who tries to excuse her behavior should have their head examined. Her 'weasley' words about passion cut no ice with me, and I have been at the coalface of the game.
And if any TV talk show person/host or such even thinks of bringing this thug on to explain her actions, such a presenter had better make sure that this hooligan's 'victims' have equal air time. But the nature of American TV is such that the sensational aspect of a news story is not always geared to the benefit of those who were wronged, but more so on the thug, that number 15 clearly is, a thug.
And if any TV talk show person/host or such even thinks of bringing this thug on to explain her actions, such a presenter had better make sure that this hooligan's 'victims' have equal air time. But the nature of American TV is such that the sensational aspect of a news story is not always geared to the benefit of those who were wronged, but more so on the thug, that number 15 clearly is, a thug.
And I can see someone like Oprah or Dr Phil giving this thug air time by bringing her on to explain her actions, and said thug benefiting from her actions. The video clearly shows her actions, and clearly shows she is a thug. If this indeed happens, then I will have totally no faith whatsoever in American television. And I am a Yank as far back as 1640.
Nice job you little c*nt. Some job your parents did in raising an unsportsmanlike brat. I liken this to an incident in the New York area about 2 years ago when Jeanine Crespo slugged Nicole Thorpe in the jaw when the 2 teams were shaking hands after the game. The perp got off with mainly probation not jail time. Elizabeth Lambert deserves jail time. THIS WAS FLAT OUT ASSAULT!!! IT CANNOT BE TOLERATED!!!!
Kudos to Elizabeth Lambert! BYU decided they wanted to play jungle soccer so Lambert obliged them. First the elbow then the pulling up Lambert's shorts. What was "ponytail" trying to do? Give Lambert a wedgie?!?! Lambert handed it back to them in her own style and now the sports community is in an uproar. Its too bad Vela has caved into the pressure. I showed this video to all my buddies. Everyone agrees that had BYU's conduct and Lambert's appropriate response been done in the men's sports areana this wouldn't even be an issue. Too bad that even the lady commentators support this double standard. You guys are your own worst enemy. Hang in there Elizabeth! You Rock!
Forget soccer, Ms. Lambert looks like she'd have a promising career in roller derby, lol!!!
And I can see someone like Oprah or Dr Phil giving this thug air time by bringing her on to explain her actions, and said thug benefiting from her actions. The video clearly shows her actions, and clearly shows she is a thug. If this indeed happens, then I will have totally no faith whatsoever in American television. And I am a Yank as far back as 1640.
Such a bunch of hypocrites on this site. You think that there is no hair pulling in women soccer.....where are you people when there is a soccer world cup being hosted. Some of the dirtiest players showcase their talents on the biggest platform but that seems to be okay. There is nothing beautiful about professionalism any more. I think she should get her shot on Oprah....do you people even know where the line is anymore.
Such a bunch of hypocrites on this site. You think that there is no hair pulling in women soccer.....where are you people when there is a soccer world cup being hosted. Some of the dirtiest players showcase their talents on the biggest platform but that seems to be okay. There is nothing beautiful about professionalism any more. I think she should get her shot on Oprah....do you people even know where the line is anymore.
I played field hockey, and yes sports are very physical and there is foul play in all sports, but the level Elizabeth Lambert took it to is absolutely disgusting. She obviously has major issues. If you cannot beat an opponent by skill, then you must not be that great anyways. She could have snapped that girl's neck paralyzing her forever or even killing her. She also could have done major damage to the girl's knee and leg when she slid in between her legs. She is pathetic and should be charged for battery. She is an embarrassment to her university and should not be allowed to play again.
BYU? Ok so have any of you been to BYU? Are you familiar with their play and tactics? I bet anything this was lightly provoked and those that raised the level are hiding. I am not defending her actions but I am saying she is a great sport for taking it and not turning others in.
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