Women's Soccer Growing in Intensity
Lobo Elizabeth Lambert Eventually Apologizes for Outlandish Actions
Last week Elizabeth Lambert made a name for herself showing that women are just as rough and tough as the big boys. Lambert, a successful collegiate soccer player for the New Mexico Lobos, has received a number of accolades. Standing at 5'8" she has the ideal build for a women's soccer player at the college level. In her first two seasons at New Mexico the junior has seen action in 14 matches, starting six. Last year, as a sophomore, Lambert's off-field achievements earned her national attention. She was named to the 2008 Fall Academic All-Conference team. Last week she earned national attention as well, this time in the negative sense.
Defining Moment of Women's Soccer
Soccer has never been the prime time sport in America like it is across the rest of the world. Back in 1999 the USA women's national team tried to launch soccer into the limelight. With their World Cup victory the women paved the way for a greater soccer awareness for America. They helped promote a vision of female power on the soccer field.
That moment sent shockwaves through the nation. Young girl's began to notice the sport and take part in numbers never seen before in American soccer. These girls saw the World Cup as a a moment of women's identity and it attracted them to the sport of soccer. Elizabeth Lambert must have been one of these girls.
Bad Temper Leads to Aggressive Outburst
Lambert, a defender on the New Mexico women's soccer team, is a prime example of the competitiveness of women's soccer that would leave even the strongest male athletes quivering. It is a tense time for collegiate women's soccer as it is tournament time. On Thursday it was the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference women's soccer tournament. BYU faced New Mexico in that game and hand their hands full with action on and off the ball.
While soccer is not a game for the weak of heart, there are limitations to the roughness and physical play. Lambert let the emotions get the best of her in this meaningful matchup and took it out on Cougar players.
Something got the California native's blood pumping as she attacked the BYU players mercilessly . As documented on ESPN's Sports Center Lambert is seen deliberately punching a girl in the back. Beyond that Lambert goes as far as to drag a girl to the ground, by her hair. Not only is it painful to watch it hurts seeing the girl being taken advantage of like that.
Lambert was aggressive the entire game, and eventually she was assessed a yellow card. She committed a series of slide tackles and kicks that were potentially intentional moves to injure members of the opposing sqaud. The yellow card was given to Lambert in the 74th minute of play when the referee said she tripped a BYU player. The commentators and those watching the game said Lambert should have received a straight red card for her unsportsmanlike actions. With a red card she would have been dismissed from the game entirely. BYU would eventually defeat Lambert's Lobo squad 1-0, but New Mexico's season may not be over even though they were eliminated from the Mountain West Tournament. The Lobos have a record of 13-5-3, eligible for an At-Large bid in the NCAA tournament.
Future of Lambert, Lobos
Whether or not the Lobos make the tournament, Lambert will not be joining her team. She was suspended indefinitely for her actions. She has since apologized for her on the field antics, citing her emotions getting the better of her. The athletic department and coaching staff of New Mexico is finding it hard to forgive the junior and cannot justify her actions, no matter the level of competition.
When the women's national team pulled off an impeccable World Cup victory in 1999, it is assumed they had a vision of further intensity in the women's game. It is highly doubtful she wanted it to go this far.
Brandi Chastain at the 1999 World Cup
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