Elizabeth Lambert: the original hard-woman of women's soccer?

Personally, it takes guts to be somebody you're not, or somebody you want to be. I like Elizabeth Lambert of the New Mexico Lobos women's soccer team for her courage to break the mold, albeit for the wrong reasons. You talk about someone who just knows how to throw someone down, punch in the back, and defend with a flying kick in spite of giving up a goal to a bunch of pure-hearted Mormons from BYU.

Sure it's taboo, and you will be obligated to apologize to save face, but the way she played football just makes you wonder...whoever in the WPS gives Lambert a chance as a developmental player's got quite the hard-player tenacity in her on their roster.

No reason why they would bother suspending her. After all, the season is just about over. Now, if this carries over into her senior year, fair enough. That's a different story. But I would think that the people who watched that had quite a blast. Or cringed, depending on which side of the platform you are on.

Tags: college, conference, elizabeth, lambert, mexico, mountain, ncaa, new, soccer, west

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Comment by JR Salazar on November 17, 2009 at 6:21pm: Good points, Milan.

Comment by Milan on November 17, 2009 at 4:49pm: Over my 40+years plus of playing, coaching and reffing soccer, I have seen 10 times worse things done then what she did. This is blown way out of proportion. Yes, she should have been red carded, but those who are saying on some blogs/sites how she should be kicked out of school and banned from ever playing soccer have obviously not watched much soccer, especially in the men's game. She did a few pushes and shoves and pulled a ponytail. Wow! I have seen guys come down studs first on top of other players faces and crotches, elbows to the teeth and more. And BTW, what Abbey did this season in sending two players out with broken legs is much worse, IMO. And I don't want to hear how Abbey was just playing hard and tough. Those two incidents were much more consequential then what miss Lambert did.

And to those who think she is not a good player, just a hack, how do you know? Can you tell by just a few internet video footages. If you haven't seen her play on a steady basis, you should have no opinion of her as whether she is a good player or not. I have seen guys who are much more dirtier and bigger hackers then Miss Lambert, play outstanding soccer with great skill, they just like to get nasty sometimes. The men's game has plenty of them.

People are in an uproar because it was a woman's college game. If it was a men's game and guys did what she did, very little would be made of it.

Comment by JR Salazar on November 15, 2009 at 1:37am: Simon:

Shhhh, quiet you. The schmuck known as Ian Poshka may have something to say [Ian mode]ABOUT US HAVING THE BEST WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM!!!!111[/Ian mode]....just kidding.

Well, at least he can't say that his area has the best MLS team, though. But I will concur, this is something you don't see too often.

Comment by Simon Allen-World Soccer Wrap on November 15, 2009 at 12:54am: Galaxy vs RSL...in Seattle....how cool is that?..... Los Angeles has the best Womens Soccer Team and the Best Mens Soccer Team in America.... its good to be a soccer fan in the City of Angels....
Lambert who???

Comment by JR Salazar on November 14, 2009 at 11:52pm: Simon:

Out of sight, out of mind. Speaking of Utah teams...guess who the G's are taking on...???

^_^

Comment by Simon Allen-World Soccer Wrap on November 14, 2009 at 6:12pm: Roy Keane was fined $368,625.00 and banned five games for admitting in his book that he went after Alfie Inge Haaland...Closer to home in 06- Dario Sala was suspended six games and fined $3,500 for violent conduct in a match against Colorado Rapids....how much if any will this girl be fined? probably nothing!!! So ban her for all the college days!!!
Lambert played like a no talent hack!!!... Any coach who knows anything will look at this player and see that she cant deal with pressure, she cant controll her emotions and is a liability to the team. She hasnt shown anyone any flashes of brilliance for anyone to say that shes a good player ( eg. Joey Barton would have been out on his butt a long time ago if at an early stage he didnt show how good of a player he could be!!! too late for him now)...So her soccer career is done...unless of course she can find a hack-coach to play for...and theres plenty of those around.

Anyway...I would like to think hat the ladies of BYU have forgiven Lambert for her stupidity....now its time for the rest of us to Forget her.

Comment by JR Salazar on November 13, 2009 at 11:01am: Pat:

Good points.

Comment by Pat on November 13, 2009 at 9:44am: She didnt come close to ruining womens soccer. She took a apporach to the game that has yet to hit the womens game like it has the mens. Last time I checked women are kicking the same size soccer balls playing 90 mins just like the men, so why can't they play the game just like the men do. I don't agree with violence, but football or even most sports are violent by nature. For me I would never do anything that could damage another players career, but I'll play dirty if thats what is needed. Just dont get caught. Suspend the chick for some games but to ban her or label her a bad person, you guys are a joke. Its a bunch of "American" soccer moms and dads crying about this. If you know anything about the real football then you know dirt happens. Not everyone choses to do it, not every game calls for it but go watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Celtic vs Rangers, Aresenal vs Chelsea, Boca Juniors vs Riverplate, Febernache vs Galatsary, after watching those games your going to think Lambert is freakin Mother Teresa

Comment by JR Salazar on November 13, 2009 at 12:53am: Mona:

Controversies exist because people believe in it. I should ask you this: why shouldn't there be? Adds to the atmosphere, just like the men's game.

KC:

People have proven their doubters wrong. I can't see why Lambert can't be in this mix. Too early to say, but when she rebounds (that is, if she does) I think you might actually be surprised by her style of play sans chippiness.

Comment by K C on November 12, 2009 at 6:41pm: I can't see her ever playing at a higher level or maybe not even at New Mexico again. She lost her cool. Every player in the country will now try to bait her into doing something stupid, hoping she will get a red card. And the refs will be watching her closely, too. Anything close to a questionable play and she will be carded.

I really didn't mind her giving a shot to the back after the BYU player elbowed her in the stomach. But the ponytail yank and the flying tackle, studs up, from behind were well over the line.

Ms. Lambert may be a good soccer player and may be one heck of a nice, decent person. But unfortunately, she will be remembered by most for a few minutes of bad judgment. If her coach or the ref had put a stop to this early on, she might have some semblance of a career left.