It was a shocking end to the game for Quest University Kermodes men's soccer head coach Jonas Worth on Sunday (Oct. 2).
Shocking, in that the referee booted Worth out of the game after the coach told the referee that a missed call was "shocking."
"I've never been thrown out of a game by a ref in my life," Worth said. "Usually I'm the guys in the stripes' best friend out there."
Worth said he loudly exclaimed, "That's shocking" to the official after a perceived missed call and then was kicked out of the game. As a result, he was forced to vacate the field for Quest's final 20 minutes against the Langara Falcons.
The afternoon didn't end well for the Kermodes, as they lost 3-2. Worth said a critical call in the first half swung the momentum of the game.
"We had all the momentum early on but they stole it after Lucas [Menz] apparently went off his line during the penalty kick," he said.
Quest's Daniel Klein tallied early but the Falcons received a penalty kick trailing 1-0 midway through the first half and Menz made a spectacular save to keep his shutout intact. However, the official ordered the kick to be re-taken after he determined that Menz left his line prior to the shot. The Falcon player got another attempt and booted it past Menz to tie the game.
Quest midfielder Ben MacGregor agreed that the officiating cost the Kermodes the game.
"His decisions changed the momentum of the game," he said, questioning the call on the penalty kick. "I thought it was probably the most fluid start we've ever had. Langara barely touched the ball but the penalty kick call was disappointing."
Worth said the second half saw the physical play increase and was unhappy with the way the game was being called.
"I thought it was some atrocious officiating out there," he said. "The game was getting more physical as it went on, which is the exact opposite of what it should be."
Quest's Mawuena Mallet evened the game at two but Langara scored late to pick up the win. The Kermodes also failed to register a win against Langara on Saturday (Oct. 1), playing to a 1-1 draw.
"We didn't play nearly as well on Saturday as we did today," Worth said after Sunday's loss. "I think the boys really responded well today but just didn't get the results."
"We were missing that finishing touch a bit today," added MacGregor. "I think we should have had a couple of penalty kicks ourselves, especially late in the game, but we've got to keep our spirits up."
The Kermodes will get a chance to get back on the winning track this weekend, when they host Capilano University on Saturday (Oct. 8) and Vancouver Island University on Sunday (Oct. 8).
"We need to get a couple of wins," Worth said. "Langara is ahead of us and we have to catch them if we want to make the playoffs. We're two wins out now and we need results."
The Kermodes record now stands at one win, three losses and two ties on the season and they sit three points behind Langara for the third and final playoff spot in the Pacwest's Group A.
Both games will kick off at 2 p.m. at Quest University field. For more information on the team, visit www.questkermodes.com.
