Earlier this morning, we showed you video of New Mexico women’s soccer player Elizabeth Lambert going full berzerker on the Lobos’ opponents, BYU. Despite repeated blatant offenses against the Cougars (no, not them) - not the least of which was yanking a competitor to the ground by her ponytail, as seen below, Lambert only got a yellow card for her actions in the 1-0 loss.
(C’mon, ref, let ‘em play.)
Thanks to the highlights hitting the national airwaves, though, school officials had no choice but to address Lambert’s repeated instances dirty play; she has now publicly apologized and has been, of course, indefinitely suspended. Apology is after the break.
From the Lobos’ official website:
Effective immediately, Lambert is prohibited from participating in all team practices, competition and conditioning activities.
“I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions,” said Lambert. “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. 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.”
In case you missed it, here’s Lambert’s, um, “highlight reel”:
In her defense, it’s apparent that the very first instance of extracurricular behavior is the Cougar elbowing Lambert in the sternum; this wasn’t an entirely one-sided affair, and BYU brought some of it on themselves with rough play of their own. The hard tackle - like American football tackle - that preceded the hair pull was also of questionable merit, and it seems like Lambert’s yank was more retaliatory than random.
That’s not to excuse her, though, as she still put together one of the most frightening sustained displays of unsportsmanlike conduct that we’ve seen in a good long while. And while we’re casting stones, where in God’s name were the referees? There are no fewer than six cards to be handed out (about three of which are automatic reds) here, and that Lambert was allowed to play 90 minutes is an outright travesty. It’s good that Lambert has been punished and has apologized; those are the necessary first steps. But don’t the refs have to do a little better than that as far as keeping order in the game? We’re amazed a full-on fistfight didn’t break out.
4:03 pm on November 6th, 2009
Is she single?
4:25 pm on November 6th, 2009
The refs should be suspended too
4:29 pm on November 6th, 2009
What’s she suspended for….season’s over!!!
4:31 pm on November 6th, 2009
“…and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration”
I wish I was on that staff
I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin…
4:35 pm on November 6th, 2009
“I am not deeply and no where near wholeheartedly regretful for my chuck Norris like ass kicking actions,” said Lambert. “My cheap and disgusting actions were very called for. I let my she hulk like emotions get the best of me in a meaningless soccer situation. I only pretend to take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the weak-ass coaching staff that has let me play this way all year and in past years. This is a full indictment of my character or the WWE and/or MMA fighter that I am. I am sorry to my coaches ( that i was caught) and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon the women that ive thrown down stepped on and punched. I am especially sorry that they actually filmed this worthless sport that has and never been needed to be filmed. I have the utmost disrespect for the BYU women’s soccer program and its players.”
Heil Soccer!
5:00 pm on November 6th, 2009
I agreed with everything you said Mia up until that part about the worthless sport that doesn’t need to be filmed.
Um…who made you the dictator of the collective human interest? I’m sorry, I was unaware your narrow opinions were now indeed fact.
Other than that, amusing post.
5:33 pm on November 6th, 2009
favorite food = tacos
5:45 pm on November 6th, 2009
That was hawt.
8:45 pm on November 6th, 2009
I want her nekkid in her next video..
3:41 am on November 7th, 2009
She can always consider a career as a dominatrix if that lucarative professional women’s soccer thing fails to take off.
8:02 pm on November 7th, 2009
WOW! you really are a panty wast! you start your comments by sayinging well……. BUY was first to elbo them and well that kind of got things going, Oh so if you are playing a game and some one touches you the wrong way by all means beat the shit out of them, you really are a dumb ass, that girl should NEVER be allowed to play on any TEAM, she has majior ISSUES, beating the other team members up threw a whole game? what a LOOSER, WOW and the ref’’s can you say money under the table?………………………just a thought.
7:01 am on November 8th, 2009
That was the coolest soccer highlight I’ve ever seen!!! Making it the only soccer highlight I’ve ever been interested in.. This is the evolution of soccer to make it more paletable to America…allow one player per team to go ape-sh%t crazy each game. I know I’d watch that…for at least 10 minutes before bowling comes on
3:41 pm on November 8th, 2009
Phew. Good thing soccer’s a big part of youth sports so those who actually played it can enjoy it despite the apparent consensus that it should be banned from television like the above poster.
10:36 pm on November 8th, 2009
I’m amazed and disgusted at how many folks on this and other sites have enjoyed/praised the unsportsmanlike play (which could have seriously injured someone).
Moreover, the refs and her coaches should also be disciplined for allowing her to stay on the field. Hard to believe that none of the UNM coaches saw any of that.
11:31 am on November 9th, 2009
Lambert’s coach knew and approved of her dirty plays yet when they became sensationalized the coach suspended Lambert.
What a sorry coach to sacrifice her students to give the appearance of ‘making good’. There’s nothing of team play in that!!! I hope the UNM women’s soccer team takes notice of what a poor person their coach is. To be on the fair side, I hope the media focuses on the dirty plays of other teams too. Lambert is not the only one doing this.
4:30 pm on November 10th, 2009
i think lambert is a scottish name . we need her playing for scotland. she,s got more balls than our team players.
jock
4:34 pm on November 14th, 2009
I like the suggestion that she should play on a Scotland team. Yes, let her play on the men’s team and let’s see what it feels like to have a 190 lb man yank on her pony tail.
She’s a travesty to sportsmanship here in the U.S. and an embarassment to her school. She should be kicked off the team.