Soccer scuffle at Marietta results in red cards, stitches

A scuffle in the last few minutes of the men's soccer game Tuesday at Marietta College was a manifestation of the frustration that has pervaded the team's spirits in recent weeks.

Players and coach Chris Barker described the scene. Oberlin was down 5-0 with about five minutes to play. Wilson and a Marietta defender had a shoving match around 20 yards from the goal that reached its apex when the defender threw Wilson to the ground, players said.

Then, they said, the defender threw Wilson to the ground. When Wilson got up, he said, "I stood up and saw the guy's face and I punched him."

Players, referees and coaches stopped the fight from spreading. Around five to 10 seconds later, witnesses said, Marietta's goalkeeper ran out of the box and punched Wilson above his left eye, leaving a gash about an inch and a half wide and requiring 17 stitches.

Wilson also received a concussion.

When he was hit, Wilson's head snapped back into the head of a Marietta player, whose skin was also split open above the eye.

Wilson, the player he originally scuffled with and the Marietta goalkeeper all received red cards.

The marietta goalkeeper has also been kicked off the team.

Oberlin was late to arrive back on campus after spending hours waiting for Wilson to be treated in the emergency room.

Marietta's president called President Nancy Dye Wednesday to check on Wilson's condition.

Barker said that he's going to remember the players who began to rush onto the field at the beginning of the first altercation. "Some people who may not make the team next year because of their attitudes," Barker said.