Senior defender files suit to challenge drug suspension
By JEFF BALTRUZAK
Assistant Sports Editor
Monica Gonzalez, a senior defender for the Notre Dame women's soccer team, has filed suit in St. Joseph County Superior Court against the University, seeking an injunction to continue playing soccer for the Irish.
She was suspended from varsity athletic competition Sept. 25 stemming from an incident involving marijuana while Gonzalez was a student at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico.
Gonzalez received a temporary injunction from Judge William T. Means allowing her to continue to compete for the Irish while the litigation continues.
William Hoye, associate vice president and deputy general counsel for the University, would not comment on the suit, saying the University does not comment on current litigation.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Charles P. Rice, attorney for Gonzalez, said that the University had not yet filed an answer to the complaint submitted by Gonzalez.
Rice expected Means to hear arguments from the two sides on Thursday.
Gonzalez could not be reached at her listed student number Monday.
The suspension was a result of an incident where "[Gonzalez] was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was with a student who had drugs," said Rice.
Rice said that Gonzalez was not in the room at the time the drugs were confiscated at the University of the Americas. He also said that originally, the individual who "had the drugs blamed it on her. The kid had been in trouble before."
The other student, Gerardo Vallejo, eventually came forward and asserted the drugs belonged to him, and that he asked Gonzalez to lie about the ownership of the marijuana, according to Rice.
Gonzalez was never charged with any crime in Mexico involving marijuana, but was put on probation by the University of the Americas, according to Rice.
Gonzalez finished her semester in Mexico with a 3.93 GPA.
In regard to the University's punishment, Rice said that it seemed "quite extreme."
"[The University's] court pleading is clear, Gerardo paid for the drugs," said Rice.
Gonzalez is a member of the Mexican National soccer team, and a starting defender for Notre Dame. She had played in all nine of the Irish's games this year, scoring one goal and dishing out two assists, and is considered one of the top outside defenders in the country.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, October 9, 2001
