Derby High Soccer Player Arrested For Punching Opponent: PD

DERBY, CT — A Derby High School girls soccer player is facing assault charges after she punched a member of the Torrington team in the head during a game in September, which led to an injury, the Republican-American reports. She recently turned herself in on an active warrant.

The girl's name isn't being revealed because she is a juvenile. The incident happened at a Sept. 25 game, according to the Republican-American, and the victim, identified as Allison Dudek was punched in the head "several times," police told the Rep-Am. No penalties were handed out, but the game was stopped at that point and Torrington won.

The girl is charged with second-degree assault, which is a Class D felony in Connecticut.

Torrington refused to play Derby in an October rematch because the girl who punched the Torrington player was scheduled to play. Torrington forfeited the match, according to GameTimeCT.

Litchfield County Sports writer Timothy Gaffney wrote that he witnessed the incident that initially started as a fight between a Derby player and Dudek. Another Derby player then grabbed Dudek by the hair and punched her multiple times in the head. Dudek's mother told Litchfield County Sports that Dudek still suffers from the effects of the assault, including headaches that keep her out of school.

Torrington Head Coach Mario Longobucco said he was disappointed in how Derby schools handled the situation and that Dudek hadn't been to school for a full day for at least a month.