Update: Suspensions possible in girls soccer fight
4:37 PM Mon, Nov 09, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Florida lawyer in probe transfers Narragansett homes |
Main
| Woonsocket man charged with felony assault »
BY MIKE SZOSTAK PROVIDENCE, RI -- Players involved in the fight at the end of the MetLife Soccer Classic Girls Division IV Championship Sunday night face a suspension of at least five games, according to Rhode Island Interscholastic League rules. The brief bench-clearing scuffle occurred with about a minute to play in Woonsocket's 5-0 victory over Tolman. Another scuffle among fans of both schools took place minutes later in the grandstand, resulting in the cancellation of the awards ceremony. Tom Mezzanotte, executive director of the Interscholastic League, said he has reviewed videotape of the incident and has requested officials of Tolman and Woonsocket to investigate. He said he will compile a report and present it to the Principals Committee on Athletics. He did not speculate as to when that might happen. "The season is over. We want to get it right," he said. Fighting in soccer is an automatic five-game suspension. If fighting occurs during the last game of the season, the suspension is served the following season. If a senior is involved, the suspension is for the next sport season the senior plays. The fight began after Woonsocket's Kristin Cahill, a striker, collided with a Tolman player. Her number is not clearly visible in the video, but WPRI-TV identified her as defender Maria Lopera. Cahill is a senior and Lopera a junior. The Tolman player got up and pushed Cahill, who pushed back. More pushing ensued, Cahill took a swing, and the players tumbled to the ground. Other players on the field and on the bench rushed in. Officials restored order quickly and ended the game with four seconds remaining. An incident with 16:40 remaining in the game and Woonsocket leading, 4-0, possibly foreshadowed the ending. Tolman midfielder Estefania Duran, running down the sideline in front of the grandstand, made a hand gesture, with thumb and little finger extended, toward the large and vocal Woonsocket cheering section. Mezzanotte noted that players from both teams eventually participated in the traditional post-game handshake and said that in the last two years only one fight in soccer has occurred. Woonsocket coach Kathleen Fagnant says she doesn't know how the fight started but says she isn't going to "take the fall for that." The league describes itself as "a voluntary organization of principals who pledge their high schools and participants to follow the Rules and Regulations of the League." (This entry was first posed at 12:30 p.m.) 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Now why would that coach be worried about taking a fall? She must have done something to feel that she would be implicated. Guilty! looked like an innocent bump and fall, incidental. The young lady who got knocked over was clearly at fault for instigating the fight, and then dragging the other girl by her hair. She should be banned from any kind of sports, there is no room for that kind of attitude and agressiveness in any sport, let alone a kids soccer game.
Report Abuse
Woodman: judge, jury, executioner.
Report Abuse
Wheeler against Barrington, it wasn't.
Report Abuse
"Wheeler against Barrington it wasn't"....excuse us snooty.
Report Abuse
All these media stories about violence and soccer are really humourous given that soccer got it's original big push in the 1970's in America, among other things as a push at traditional US sports by peaceful hippie types who thougth football and baseball and basketball were so violent. Soccer seems to have a huge share of its violence (more actually) than many other traditional American sports. Perhaps 'soccer' is problem here?
Report Abuse
Whatever happened to good sportsmanship? It is always nice to win but to win fairly. I'm sure to win unfairly must not leave the players with a good feeling. There is to much of these young players always ready to fight what the hell is wrong with them.
Report Abuse
Any wonder why this state is going down the toilet? And CNN is showing this video to the world!!
You are great ambassadors for our state
Must come from great parents who show by example.
I wouldn't want my kids bringing any of these
beauties home!!!
Report Abuse
Just saw the video posted by channel 10 on utube and am nauseated by what I saw. The icing on the cake was that some "sever penalties of being suspended for 5 games may be imposed " Are you kidding me ? This is inexcusable behavior... they need to learn their action have consequences. Kick them off the team, suspend them from school and bring the direct ones involved up on assault charges. This kind of behavior needs to stop.
Report Abuse
Way to go ladies!! Made us the laughing stock of the world after CNN showed the video. Another nail in the coffin of this state. Think businesses are going to come to this state after seeing the fight video? The sad thing is you all probably think it was ok....
Report Abuse
shame shame shame i love how its never anyones fault not me not me what an embrassment to all kids in sports who behave
Report Abuse
I agree with Woodman. The girl that fell was at fault. It doesn't even look like the Cahill meant to make her fall. And this article says she pushed her back.....uh no. She didn't at all. She backed away in a what's your problem posture in which the arrogant girl who can't take a fall pushed her again. Really? Get the reporting right. It doesn't always have to be two peoples faults and you don't have to make it seem "fair" by punishing both of the girls. You can clearly see who's fault it is.
Report Abuse
Okay, so i attend tolman high school and i think that the media completely blew this entire situation out of proportion. I also think that random people from other school or even adults should NOT be judging the incidents of the fighting. The score of the game has nothing to do wit the fact that they fought. These girls (from both teams) are under so much pressure. Give them a break and move on. Its old news already.
Report Abuse
Wow. the most telling comment is from the Tolman student who states that "random" people should NOT be allowed to judge these people and events. This is an example of a rampant type of emotional and moral paralysis, in which even a flagrant assault can only be understood in the context of finding out what underlying problems make someone belt an oppposing player 3 times in the chest and throat and then try to pull the hair out of her head. In this world of instant paradoxes, she must somehow be the victim, right ? Maybe the Woonsocket girl said something mean, requiring a full and immediate physical smackdown. Oh and by the way, the Novan coach is correct. The hunt for scapegoats is soon to begin. It has to be SOME adults fault, right ?
Report Abuse
OMG get over it! There was a fight on a soccer field-who cares? Ever been to a hockey game? Why do you people find it necessary to make a big deal out of everything? What is troublesome is the parents fighting. They are supposed to be the adults! Children fight. Move on!
Report Abuse