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Public reprimand issued to Syracuse University's 
women's lacrosse head coach and student-athlete

A public reprimand and certain penalties have been issued for the Syracuse University head women’s lacrosse coach Gary Gait and student-athlete Michelle Tumolo for misconduct during the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

Specifically, coach Gait was found to have engaged in misconduct by making postgame press conference comments critical of the officiating following the championship game.

Tumolo was found to have engaged in misconduct by making unsporting comments and placing her hands on a game official after being issued a second yellow card during the game. In addition to the public reprimand, her transportation expenses and championship per diem were withheld.

Tumolo also was issued a red card at the time of the incident. Per the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules, any student-athlete or coach who has received a red card will be prohibited from participating in the team’s next game. As a result, Tumolo will serve a one-game suspension beginning with the first game of the 2013 regular season.

“The women’s lacrosse committee was disappointed with the unsportsmanlike actions displayed by the coach and student-athlete,” said Candice Lee, chair of the Division I Women’s Lacrosse Committee and associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Vanderbilt University. “We believe these types of behaviors only serve to discredit the sport of women’s lacrosse and the championship.”