As the Northeastern men’s soccer team was on its way to clinching the NCAA College Cup, one of their most dedicated fans was forced to watch the remainder of the game from behind a fence.

Sunday afternoon, the Huskies faced the University of Vermont at Parsons Field. In the middle of the second half, Alex Cocchiola, a sophomore international business major, was asked to leave the complex and was escorted off the premise by an NU administrator.

“First and foremost, we want spectators to have fun … whoever it happens to be. We want them to be loyal and passionate,” said Michael Winsor, Assistant Director of Operational Services for the athletic department. “We try to promote good sportsmanship. If anyone was thrown out then they had crossed the line.”

Cocchiola disagrees.

“My method of cheering is to get into the heads of players,” he said. “I’ve only cursed one time … Winsor told me he liked what I was doing.”

Cocchiola lives with five players on the soccer team, and began attending home games to support his roommates.

“I hate soccer. I had no interest in the sport, I just started going to support my roommates,” he said. “[The team] gave me the fan of the year award.”

In trying to live up to this appointment as fan of the year, Cocchiola said that he treated the cup game as any other game. Ed Matz, the men’s and women’s coach, said that he didn’t notice anything unusual either, until an NCAA official approached Winsor.

“I didn’t notice what was going on, until the fourth official came over,” Matz said. “The official asked Mike to have the student removed.”

Cocchiola said that while Winsor was escorting him off of the field, he told him he was an embarrassment. The student then said he returned the sentiment.

“Maybe I took it too far,” he said.

During playoff games, Matz explained, a fourth official is added to monitor conduct among players, coaches and spectators.

“I’ve heard him hollerin’ in the past,” Matz said. “The comments I’ve heard were never inappropriate. He is entertaining to the crowd.”

Winsor said that he and other members of the athletic department always try to warn spectators if they are over stepping any boundaries. The boundaries include swearing, the verbal assault of opponents, verbal confrontations with opposing spectators or throwing objects at players or onto the field.

Cocchiola maintains his innocence.

“I didn’t threaten anyone. I didn’t talk to other fans,” he said. “Why do we condone the Dog House, because it is a bigger group?”

Winsor said that heckling is common place in any hockey arena in the nation.

Cocchiola persisted.

“The football and hockey programs get away with a lot more, this is why I was punished. I just don’t think [the administration] support soccer,” he said.