A celebration following her 100th career victory as a prep girls' soccer coach resulted in a one-game suspension for Karen Anderson of Paul VI High School, the top-ranked girls' soccer team in New Jersey.
As reported by NJ.com, Anderson's suspension was handed down after a video surfaced on Instagram showing her popping open what appears to be a champagne bottle on school property the day before, moments after her team defeated Notre Dame in the South Jersey, Non-Public A quarterfinals.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association prohibits coaches and players from engaging with alcohol during or after games on school property, with violations carrying a one-year suspension from tournament play and possible sanctions that could “deny championship rights,” according to the association’s policies and procedures cited by NJ.com sports reporter Patrick Lanni.
Wrote Lanni, "Instead of a more-serious penalty, Paul VI worked in coordination with the NJSIAA to sanction a one-game suspension for Anderson in the midst of her team’s quest for its third straight state championship."
“While Coach Anderson did not consume the contents of the bottle, Paul VI does not condone this behavior and recognizes the importance of upholding the standards of conduct expected of our coaches,” Paul VI, located in Haddonfield, said Friday in a statement provided to NJ.com.
"During a phone interview earlier Friday, Anderson declined to say whether the bottle contained alcohol, but confirmed she did not drink from it," Lanni wrote Saturday. "She said the bottle was handed to her by a group of parents who had set up a post-game celebration after the milestone victory."
Anderson said the video clip of the celebration, since deleted, showed her putting the bottle back on the table after popping the cork. “I’m not surprised that it is coming to light given our success,” she added, per Lanni's reporting. “It’s really unfortunate that there are people out there looking for an opportunity to ruin all the hard work that I’ve put into this program.”
With a 21-1 record prior to the suspension, Paul VI was ranked 16th nationally, according to the United Soccer Coaches poll. The team finishing 24-0 last season under Anderson, capturing the Non-Public A state championship for the second year in a row.
Anderson served her suspension Monday, as Paul VI defeated Immaculata, 2-0, in a sectional semifinal matchup in Haddonfield. The Eagles are now two wins away from clinching a third consecutive state title.
