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11/4/06 - A Tale of True Sportsmanship
While many of you may have heard or seen the final result from the recent Framingham vs. Bridgewater women�s match, the following is an account of the actual events of the game, and how a team chose sportsmanship and fair play over victory.
On October 29th, the Framingham State women took on Bridgewater State, in a must win for Framingham. Bridgewater was in first place in the MASCAC and needed to win to earn the conference title, while Framingham State was in fifth place (of the 7 team MASCAC) and needed the win to qualify for the MASCAC tournament. Bridgewater controlled the first half although they failed to score. It was 0-0 at halftime. About 7 minutes into the second half a ball was played in front of the Bridgewater goal from the flank. The ball rattled around in traffic and ended up in the back of the net. Although the ball was in the net, the Framingham coaches felt there was something odd about the goal as their girls weren't celebrating wildly.
Two of the Framingham players, the freshman forward who took the shot, Kellen Doughterty from Amherst, MA and the attacking central midfielder, Carolyn Reinstein from Ashland, MA, both ran to the bench and told the coaches the ball had passed through the side netting and was not a goal. The players were instructed to tell the referee. After conferring with his AR for a few minutes, the referee mysteriously awarded the goal.
As Bridgewater State lined up, the Framingham players were instructed by their coach to permit Bridgewater State to score a goal uncontested. As it was a very windy day, not all of the players heard the instruction but eventually Senior Captain Karin Knutsen, and Senior Goalkeeper Ashley Baker conveyed the instructions, and Bridgewater was permitted to score uncontested. The score stood at 1-1.
The match ended with Bridgewater prevailing 3-2 (or 2-1 without the "non-goals"), Framingham waseliminated from post-season play, and Bridgewater State won the MASCAC.
When asked about his decision, Framingham coach Tucker Reynolds said �The decision was an easy one, made even easier by the honorable conduct of my players. I don't coach soccer, I coach young athletes. There were far more important lessons learned by all of us last Sunday than which team could win a game on a windy Sunday afternoon. I have never been more proud of a team than I am of my young Framingham State team right now. They may have lost a game, but they proved that sportsmanship, integrity and a sense of honor are invaluable personal qualities. The Bridgewater State coaches, players, Athletic Department and even some parents have expressed their thanks and gratitude not only for our girls' honesty, but also for allowing their "...toughest MASCAC match of the year..." to be decided fairly.
From all of us here at D3Kicks, we would like to say thanks to Framingham State for displaying true sportsmanship and honor, and even though you will not be playing in November, you should hold your heads high because all of you have shown the character of a true champion.
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