Ladies and gentlemen, if you thought college soccer was just about goals and teamwork, think again! This past Sunday, a women’s college soccer game took a turn that no one saw coming, descending into pure madness as two opponents went toe-to-toe—literally!
Rutgers made the trip to UMass for what everyone expected to be a regular afternoon matchup. But in the 55th minute, things got intense. Rutgers’ Gia Girman committed a foul from behind, setting the stage for what would become a truly chaotic scene.
UMass player Ashley Lamond, eager to keep the game moving, tried to take the free kick quickly. But as fate would have it, she and Girman got tangled up while trying to grab the ball, and that’s when things really escalated.
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
Before anyone could blink, Lamond shoved Girman, and suddenly, punches were flying in both directions! It was a wild sight to see as Girman managed to take Lamond down to the ground and started throwing punches while on top of her. Not to be outdone, Lamond fought back, grabbing a handful of Girman’s hair as they scrapped on the ground. The whole scene was ugly and shocking, something you don’t usually see on the soccer field.
Players from both sides quickly rushed over to break up the brawl, but the damage was done. The referees had seen enough, and both Girman and Lamond were shown red cards, meaning they were ejected from the game. With both teams now down to 10 players, the rest of the match had a completely different dynamic.
Crazy scenes today in Amherst, as a fight broke out between in a game between Rutgers and UMass, with multiple punches being thrown. Gia Girman of Rutgers and Ashley Lamond from UMass were both sent off as a result.
UMass went on to win 1-0.#CollegeSoccer #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/nvmhU4WStb
— College Soccer News (@ncaasoccernews) August 25, 2024
Despite the chaos, UMass managed to pull off a 1-0 victory, thanks to an 81st-minute goal from Bella Recinos. This win marked UMass’s first of the season, giving them a 1-2-0 record, while Rutgers left with a 1-1-1 standing.
This game will undoubtedly be remembered not for the scoreline but for the shocking brawl that unfolded. It serves as a reminder of just how intense sports can get, but also how important it is to keep cool under pressure. Here’s hoping we see more soccer and less scrapping in future matches!
A fight broke out in a women’s soccer game between UMass and Rutgers pic.twitter.com/wYAVGsKDuj
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 25, 2024
