The SIU Edwardsville men’s soccer team’s home match on Sept. 23 against Lewis University was halted wth 3:50 remaining when a brawl among players erupted on the field. Police were called in to restrain the teams. According to reports, the fight broke out after a player from SIUE and from Lewis each tried to go for a header on a ball that was kicked the length of the field. Lewis head coach Evan Fiffles had been ejected with a second yellow card for dissent about a minute earlier.
The Great Lakes Valley Conference has awarded the game to SIUE, which led 2-1 when the fight broke out.
Two SIUE players - Mike Jones and Zach Bauer - were ejected with red cards after the fight with lewis. Two Lewis players - Anthony Marsico and Craig McIntosh -were also kicked out. The end result for the 15th-ranked SIUE team is that it must play No. 2-ranked Northern Kentucky Friday without two of its starters.
Referees can - and should - do what they can to prevent such antics from occuring. But sometimes, the most well-intentioned ref can do more to fuel the fire than extinguish the flames.
There was just 3:50 left in the match, guys. Was it worth it? After all, the best way to get back at a team is to beat them on the scoreboard, not beat them upon the pitch.
- Pete Hayes