Just a quick note. That was one of the most horrendously officiated games I have ever seen. After the last 3 min half, the Cold Spring fans didn't even know if they should cheer. Being a Bayport parent and having multiple CSH parents say it was a terrible mess and that the Nassau official in question is known for his terrible calls. They see him do it all the time. I am not saying either team would have been on top if he had not been so bad but at least both sides would be in understanding of their control of W/L position at the end.
The officiating was horrible in the St. A's v. Sacred Heart final too - one official appeared to have a problem with her leg and could barely make it up and down the field. There has to be better officials out there to ref championship games - and I am a St. A's parent so not sour grapes. It is a sad mess that this official with a terrible reputation would even be allowed to officiate any Championship Game. There needs to be a way to prevent him continuing to put his mark on the game.
I agree, the officiating is inconsistent and sometimes downright bias! It is a sport that has more whistles and stoppages than a traffic cop in Times Square! This puts a lot of emphasis on the officials interpretation of the rules and their ability to execute that day. There is a philosophical difference of how the game should be called throughout women's lacrosse and you see those differences from ref to ref. It makes it difficult for the girls to know how to play from game to game. Since there are so many calls and subjectivity there are more reaction from coaches, players and fans to those calls. I have been involved in many sports and I have never seen ref's influenced from that reaction as much as this sport. To the point where their calls get demonstrative towards the team they have turned on. These refs need to be reminded that the game is not about them and they don't need to be a part in the outcome! That being said, I watched both BBP games vs. MT Sinai and CSH, As much as they got the short end against CSH, they certainly got the benefit in the MT Sinai game.
