Mark Massari, the director of athletics at UCSB, released a statement Monday night explaining that his department is investigating alleged incidents that involved members of the men’s soccer team following Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second-round match against Cal at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley.
The Gauchos, playing a man down since the 25th minute, lost the match, 2-1, when Cal scored in the final seconds of the first 10-minute overtime period. The defeat ended the Gauchos’ dream of reaching the College Cup, which they are hosting next month.
“As a department we are thoroughly investigating the post-game actions of our student-athletes and staff,” Massari said in the statement. “Once all video and input is reviewed, I will take the appropriate actions guided by sportsmanship, codes of conduct and general expectations of behavior.”
There were a couple of calls by referee Mike Kampmeinert that enraged the Gauchos. The first was a red card issued to midfielder Luis Silva, who after going in on a tackle on Cal’s Servando Carrasco on a 50-50 ball was punched in the side of the head by an angry Carrasco.
UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg said Kampmeinert told him the red card was given for a two-foot, studs-up tackle. Carrasco was reprimanded with a yellow card and continued playing.
The second controversial call against UCSB was a handball violation called on Gaucho defender Chris Hunter in the penalty area with 1:40 left in regulation time. Carrasco converted the resulting penalty kick to tie the score at 1-1 and send the game into overtime.
Cal’s Davis Paul scored the game-winning goal with one second to go in the final countdown.
Some upset Gaucho players ran toward the referee and UCSB head coach Tim Vom Steeg and his assistants ran from the bench and pulled the players away. Michael Tetteh, Machael David and Danny Barrera received red cards for confronting the referee at the end of the match.
In his postgame remarks, Vom Steeg criticized the NCAA for not assigning the best officials to do tournament games and that the system of selecting referees needs to be addressed and changed.
Said Massari: “This match leaves many tough questions to be asked, through the proper system and process, on how officials are assigned and selected to work at this stage in the season when so much is at stake.
“However, although we are driven by championships, emotion and passion at UCSB, our student-athletes, coaches and staff will — at all times — display behavior that represents the university in nothing but a positive light. We have high standards in how we win, how we lose, and how we represent this incredible university. We did not do that post-match.”
Great to see that this will be investigated and the program reprimanded if necessary. We bring children to these games and sportsmanship and fair play is what we teach by example not fighting.
What happened during the game should be separated from the after game assault of the refs.
ucsb doesn’t need fans like you then. don’t bother coming
Like what? Rational people?
No reprimand. The three criminals – Tetteh, David, Barrera- need to be expelled or at a minimum kicked off the team. Let’s see if this is just a cover up or a real investigation.
lets see if you know what you’re talking about or if your just as full of bull shit as the game was.
Well we always love what the Regents have to say, maybe if you stopped voting for constant fee hikes people would take you seriously. I am glad that you, as a representative of the UC system, would want to immediately suggest removing students from the school. Actions of a sports player hardly seem a reason to end the educational pursuit of a student, or is that the point? The regents stopping representing the students a long time ago.
It is your responsibility as a journalist to tell the story correctly. The SB players charged the referee, shoved him and threw punches. Danny Barrerra hurled a ball at the referee from point blank range and hit him. There was negligible restraint by anybody- there is both video and photography to prove it. It is your job to frame your stories in a Santa Barbara context because you are a Santa Barbara writer. That does not justify a biased, untrue account of consecutive articles about this game.
It also still says Hector Ramirez* not Jimenez in your earlier article. You really have little to no credibility at all as a journalist. It’s no wonder these stories are so tinged with bias.
I was at the game and I was on the far end near where the ref and players were at end of the game.
What I saw was players “getting up into the Ref’s face” asking questions. We’re they pissed? Yes. But I saw no punches thrown. Just the Ref slowly backing up until he got onto a golf cart and sped away.
If there is a video, I’d like to see it. But I saw no punches thrown.
and while ucsb is busy investigating frustrated soccer players who is investigating incompetent referees?
cal gets their refs from mali
Let’s see.
UCSB AD investigates players and coaches for reactions caused by highly paid and incompetent referee selected by the NCAA. At least high paid compared to the student-athletes.
UCSB AD must investigate, otherwise NCAA will do so – likely resulting in more severe punishment for the school. AD will discipline coaches and players to show action, avoiding the issue that the AD demanded the win at all cost mentality and the pressure associated with that dictate.
NCAA will say well done AD and all is well. Players will turn profession as they are that good. UCSB will have trouble recruiting new players. So long to the growth of college soccer.
I for one will return to watching college football where this stuff doesn’t happen, except at USC.