Meet Elizabeth Lambert, the Roughest Soccer Player in the World

By: Daryl | November 6th, 2009

I’ve seen the above game described as a “catfight”, but that absolutely does not do it justice. Bringham Young University vs New Mexico in the Women’s Mountain West Conference college tournament last night was more like the roughest game of soccer ever captured on YouTube, and it featured the roughest display of defending I’ve ever seen.

New Mexico #15 Elizabeth Lambert puts in more than one nasty tackle, punches an opponent in the back and somehow gets away with yanking an opponent to the floor by the ponytail. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if she was actually trying to pull her head clean off. Last but not least, when Lambert brings a BYU player down on the edge of the box, you can see one of her New Mexico teammates run in and fire the ball straight at the fallen player’s face.

Julie Foudy was not impressed.

Obviously this is amusing. No denying that. But it’s also kind of horrifying. The idea that any game of college soccer is serious enough to behave like a monster is scary. The fact that Lambert wasn’t sent off for any of her many offences suggests maybe the standard of refereeing in the Mountain West Conference needs a little work too. Or a sight test at the very least.

Good news is that despite New Mexico’s attempts to decapitate their opponents, BYU won the game 1-0. Proving that there’s still justice in the world, even when the referees fail to administer it.

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Category: World Football

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Stephanie

Her behavior was absolutely ridiculous - took competitiveness to a whole new, unnecessary level. What's going on with all the sports violence anyway - it's getting out of control. http://www.newsy.com/videos/so...
cadfile

all the other girls that this thug assulted should sue this moron for every penny that thay can i hope that she is never allowed to play football again
Mary Schenk

This girl is a monster... she's obviously not fit to be on any soccer field much less in a university setting with other young people. She is violent, unsportwomanly, a bully and therefore a cheater. Watch out future employers, friends, boyfriends, acquaintances of this witch... she'll be worse as she gets older and has more life experience. God Forbid the person who gets in her way... she is dangerous now and will likely be even more dangerous in the future. You don't get good things in life by being a ponytail pulling back punching bully. You get a good life by competing kindly - on your own merits - not by punching and pulling the life out of your competition. She comes with a warning label... BEWARE!
domenico

although Elizabeths behaviour was inexcusable and well beyond merely rough play. A ban from soccer is a bit harsh in my opinion. I ve seen pros completely k.o. oposing players, and they received a red card, fine, and a few games suspension.

In my opinion the absolute majority of the blame lays with the referee for alowing this to go on with only one yellow card issued. at least 3 of the infractions shown on the tape were while she was on the ball and should have been a straight red. Several others could have warranted a yellow. How in the world a referee or even his line men, no matter how inexperienced, could have missed so many of them is beyond me. If they banned elizabeth for her behaviour, they should AT LEAST suspend this referee and his line men.

Further more, more than likely this was not the first time elizabeth got a little out of control. Behaviour like this is usually reoccuring, and builds up over a period of time. I coach soccer, and when i see one of my players jump out of his way to take down a player, or smack someone in the face, or even lose his temper, you better believe he gets a talking too. Shure rough play happens and is part of the game. But Elizabeth took it well beyond that (punching on more than one occasion,kicking the ball in a downed players face, clearely jumping at players legs, yanking so hard on some ones hair it almost takes her head off) and the coaches should be ashamed of them selves to have allowed her to continue in this game.
Jennifer Doyle

I of course write about this on my blog - and you can see there a pretty great montage of great - 'clean' - physical play in the women's game.