Elizabeth Lambert Talks About Yank-Down

Elizabeth Lambert, the University of New Mexico soccer player who gained notoriety two weeks ago after a video of her taking down another player in a soccer match led to calls of unsportsmanlike play, spoke to The New York Times and said she could not fully explain her actions.

"I still deeply regret it and will always regret it and will carry it through the rest of my life not to retaliate," Lambert, a 20-year-old junior on scholarship, told The New York Times .

The Nov. 5 incident that ultimately led to her indefinite suspension occurred during a Mountain West Conference semifinal game against Brigham Young University. During the game, Lambert yanked down BYU's Kassidy Shumway by her ponytail. That coupled with shoves, pushes and other tough play led to calls that the game was too violent.

Watching the video of the pull-down incident, she says that she does not recognize herself. "I look at it and I'm like, 'That is not me,'" said Lambert. "I have so much regret. I can't believe I did that."

She did say that women's soccer was aggressive, and the action might be misunderstood by casual fans. She believes that the incident was blown out of proportion because it occurred in a women's game.

She added, "I think the way the video came out, it did make me look like a monster. That's not the type of player I am. I'm not just out there trying to hurt players. That's taking away from the beauty of the game. And I would never want to do that."

Lambert, who has met with a clinical psychologist to better understand the hair-pulling incident, said she was shaken by e-mail and telephone messages she has received as well as comments made about her online.

After the Lambert incident, another girls soccer match also got attention for violent behavior . A fight broke out on the field between two teams in the Rhode Island state championship tournament, and then another fight broke out the stands during the game.

The clip of Lambert during the New Mexico - BYU game has gotten plenty of views on YouTube: