Bizarre ending to Burlington’s win over Hampshire
Burlington Central and Hampshire played a pretty good first half unfortunately that was all they played.
Following a bizarre series of events, the match ended after 40 minutes with the Rockets (3-4) claiming a 1-0 girls soccer victory Tuesday on Rocket Hill.
About 2 minutes before halftime a Hampshire player went down near midfield. Hampshire coach Patrick O’Brien expressed his concern about the lack of calls. Two yellow cards later O’Brien was out of the game. Still seeking an explanation he expressed his reluctance to leave his team behind. The officials then abandoned the match, the Whip-Purs soon boarded their bus and left.
O’Brien contacted the Daily Herald after the game and gave this account of the events.
“The officials are claiming we left and abandoned the game. That’s not the case at all,” O’Brien said. “I received a yellow card and during halftime I went up to the official and he said, ‘keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to see this card change color.’
“I cocked my head and he threw out the red card. I asked what it was for and he said I had the option to leave or forfeit. All I wanted to know was what I did. He said, ‘words and actions.’ All I did was cock my head. He said ‘game’s over and told the other officials ‘to pack up your stuff.’ He was very short. He called the game off.
“My assistant was right there. I asked the AD if he could intercede but I told the girls to pack up and I took them the long way around the field. I hoped cooler heads would prevail but that wasn’t the case.”
On the field, the teams played pretty well.
Ellen Jayne scored the game’s only goal off a feed from Madeline Stoneman just under 10 minutes in. Hampshire goalkeeper Hailey Mocasto made a diving attempt and appeared to stop the shot, but the ball somehow squirted through.
“Our possession was really great,” said the Rockets’ Alex Weigand. “We’ve been struggling to work together, but tonight we worked like a family out there.”
Rockets’ coach Mike Gecan agreed.
“That was the best communication we’ve had all year,” he said.
Most of the game was a contrast in styles with the Whip-Purs hanging back and waiting for runs and the Rockets trying to apply steady pressure.