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Rutgers and UMass faced off in women’s college soccer action on Sunday, and neither held back any punches. That analogy became quite literal at one point as the game devolved into utter chaos.
More resembling a wrestling match, players from each side tussled after a Scarlet Knights’ defender’s slide tackle on a Minutewomen ball carrier.
It started as UMass pushed the ball up the field during the second half of play. Mayhem quickly erupted!
A Rutgers player attempted to slow the upward progress with a slide tackle but missed her target, instead hitting the ball carrier’s ankle.
A Minutewoman teammate quickly came to the defense of her fallen partner, appearing to shove the Scarlet Knight tackler as she tried to stand up.
Soon after, fists and bodies flew!
Women’s soccer brawl overshadows UMass win.
A fight broke out during Rutgers women’s soccer’s loss to UMass this afternoon.
Scarlet Knights senior forward Gia Girman is likely to receive a two-game suspension for her involvement in the squirmish. pic.twitter.com/k7fbHkYPFO
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) August 25, 2024
Both players tumbled to the grass after what looked like a suplex move. That was followed by a vicious haymaker landed by the Rutgers player.
Seniors Gia Girman (Rutgers) and Ashley Lamond (UMass) were the players involved in that women’s soccer brawl. Neither was backing down!!
Each received red cards and swift ejections from the contest. Rutgers beat reporter Brian Fonseca suggested that a two-game suspension could follow for Girman.
We’ve not seen her response on social media, nor have we heard from Lamond.
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Neither school appears to have released statements at the time of this writing, either.
UMass would go onto win the game, picking up its first victory of the young season. Bella Recinos found the back of the net in the 80th minute to break a 0-0 tie.
That goal would be the only of the match, but the brawl more than made up for any lack of fireworks on the field!