Referees

[freekick]

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Video-BYU-vs-New-Mexico-Womens-Mountain-West-Conference-Soccer-Tournament-Semifinals-Catfight-Blog-31934.

I would argue there needs to be a discussion at the top levels of the NCAA about how women's soccer games are being officiated. I've seen easily three red card offenses this year, and not even a card issued. Refs seem reluctant to pull cards of their pockets, and it leads to some not just aggressive play (which we all know is part of the game), but dangerous play, which shouldn't be allowed.

Just FYI: the University of New Mexico has suspended the player.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good for UNM.

Would that more coaches had the integrity and guts to 'red card' their players if the refs don't.

Though someone on the UNM sideline surely must have seen at least one of her many red-card-worthy offenses.  I'd be even more impressed if they had yanked her from the game, rather than suspending her after the video went viral.

[Becks]

I think refs totally under-card female players, I've seen more cards handed out for relatively minor stuff in one season of U12 boys soccer than I've seen in a decade of girls/women's soccer with much worse fouls.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think refs totally under-card female players, I've seen more cards handed out for relatively minor stuff in one season of U12 boys soccer than I've seen in a decade of girls/women's soccer with much worse fouls.

I won't comment on that comparison specifically (too little data), but I was proud of my co-coach on a U12 team.  In a middle-school game Aaron threw down an opponent away from the ball.  The ref missed it, but I didn't and yelled at Aaron that he was better than that (he flipped me off).  His coach (also his father and my co-coach) didn't miss it either - he immediately yanked his son for 15 minutes (the red card penalty in local middle school soccer is 10 minutes).  He didn't quite go the whole route (he subbed in a player, whereas a red card means playing down a player), but since Aaron was by far the best player on the field, a sub hardly mattered.

It ended up costing them the game (my son's team scored 3 goals while Aaron was out), but may make Aaron a better player and person.  (His father and I agree that he is usually the best player AND the most likely to be thrown out for most games.)

[Jim Matson]

The pull down via the hair had to be the most outrageous.  Where was the linesman?

[JHUFAN]

So she is suspended indefinately? Unless she is suspended for her Senior season next year the punishment is toothless. UNM soccer season is over for this season.
Also, I think UNM coach Kit Vela has to share some type of sanction, I cannot believe that neither she nor her assistant coaches saw any of the flagrant fouls commited by Lambert yet she played the entire 90 min game. Where were the assistant referee's? To miss one or maybe two fouls..acceptable but to miss all of them unacceptable.