A few weeks ago there was an article in this paper regarding an incident that occurred between the Farmingdale Pink Panthers and a Farmingdale girls soccer team. Every dispute has two sides; this was the situation from another side.

At 2:30 p.m. on that day a few of the Pink Panther players arrived at the field to line it and put up nets for a 4 p.m. game. They were told that there would be no games played on that field on Sunday. There was a boys team playing on the field. The Panthers waited until the boys finished to set up the field. While they waited, another boys team arrived to play a game scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. The Panthers assumed there was a scheduling overlap and that their game would start late. The second boys game began at 3:30 p.m.

The Panthers continued to wait for the second boys game to finish and while they waited a girls team arrived to play at 4:40 p.m. The Panthers figured there was a scheduling mistake and that the girls would play after the Panthers.

When the boys finished at 4:30 p.m. the Panthers ran onto the field to remove the temporary nets and prepared to start their game as quickly as possible to allow the girls time to play after them. However, the girls were instructed to run onto the field at the same time and prevent the Panthers from playing.

The school official in charge of field permits was called to settle the scheduling dispute. He informed the girls' coaches that they were on the wrong field. As a matter of fact, all the children's games played on that day were played on the wrong field. The girls and coaches still refused to leave the field.

The Panthers offered to shorten their game so that the girls could play after them. They also offered to help set up the field where the girls were scheduled to play. The girls and coaches wouldn't budge. After more than 20 minutes the girls team left to play on another field.

It is unfair to accuse the Panthers of taking the field from the girls team. The Panthers have been playing in Farmingdale for more than 20 years and have always obtained the proper permits. They were on the correct field. Can the girls team say the same?

Farmingdale Pink Panthers

Sharon O'Gray

Rosemary Schweitzer