Staff Report
SULLIVAN COUNTY — A punch thrown by a James I. O’Neill player during an OCIAA girls’ soccer game Monday broke the cheekbone of Sullivan West junior Kaitlyn Taylor.
The incident led to the arrest of O’Neill’s Maggie Borowicz by state police in Liberty who charged her with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. She is scheduled to appear Nov. 7 in Cochecton Town Court.
Taylor was taken to Catskill Regional Medical Center where x-rays confirmed a fracture and she was treated for multiple cuts in her mouth. Hospital staff was also testing for a possible concussion.
Sullivan West Coach Mike Ellmauer referred all inquiries about the incident to Athletic Director Dave Franskevicz, who did not return a phone call on Thursday.
Sullivan West Superintendent Ken Hilton released this statement:
“We’re shocked and saddened by what happened on Monday afternoon and the entire school community is hoping that Kaitlyn will soon have a full recovery from her injuries.”
Attempts to reach the game’s officials and Debbie Crowe, O’Neill’s Athletic Director, were unsuccessful.
According to OCIAA and Section IX rules, Borowicz will be ineligible for the next two O’Neill games. She received a red card for this altercation, which is an automatic one-game suspension and because this was her second red card of the season, she must sit out a second consecutive game. O’Neill has the option of imposing its own additional penalties.
Ellmauer had earlier reported that Taylor and Borowicz were engaged in tight, physical matchups throughout the game and that after the last contact, Borowicz punched Taylor sending her to the ground. Taylor, apparently got up and went after Borowicz, but was held back by teammates. She was also given a red card and ejected from the game.