Fights on the pitch Intramural Soccer action cranks up intensity

While it will still be a couple years before PUC fields an intercollegiate soccer team, players bide their time by cranking up the intensity in the intramural soccer league.

On Feb. 21, the second week of competition took place for intramural soccer. Two of the teams that went to battle were the Falcons and Saihat.

Saihat took an early 3-1 lead in the bloodbath. At the seven minute 30 second mark of the first half, a fight broke out between opposing players. The dispute was split up by the referee, as both teams' emotions continued to rage throughout the match.

After many penalty disputes, stoppages of play and penalty kicks, halftime came not a moment too soon. Saihat went into the much needed break leading by a score of 5-1.

Several players had words with the referee during the break, but looked as if they had calmed down when taking the field for the second half.

The second half was much more subdued in terms of emotional outbursts. However, this made for a much more offensively enticing game. Saihat claimed a seven-two lead with about 10 minutes 30 seconds to play, but the Falcons strung together a couple quick goals in the next two minutes to bring themselves within three of their opponents.

That was pretty much the highlight of the Falcons' game, as Saihat dominated the scoreboard for the rest of the match and beat the Falcons by the slaughter rule of nine points with just 30 seconds to play. The final score was 14-5.

Senior Jose Mendez of the Falcons blames part of the loss on the lack of team chemistry. However he was more concerned with the officiating.

"The calls were not fair," Mendez said, as he revealed a bruise on his knee he received during the intense match. "There was kicking, pushing, stuff that should have been called."

Sophomore Mahmoud Al-Saihati of team Saihat agrees the officiating was horrible, but did not complain because his team benefitted from it.

"They should have called more penalties on us," Al-Saihati admits. "We were violent, but we did good."

There were five other games which took place that night, one of them ending in a slaughter ruling as well. Team Unbeatable beat Quatro-Cinco by a convincing score of 9-0.

The other matches were closer. Azteca beat PUC United 11-8, Manchester Calumet dominated Extreme 15-7, and the Green Falcons soared above the Eagles 12-8.

Week Three of intramural soccer will take place the night of Feb. 28 in the Fitness Center. The intensity on the gym floor is yet to be seen, with the teams battling for playoff positions.