Soccer's Tobias loses appeal on overtime loss


By Tom Knauer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday, October 19, 2005

The Arizona soccer team's 2-1 double-overtime loss Sunday to Washington State will stand, a Pacific 10 Conference official said yesterday, despite attempts by Wildcat head coach Dan Tobias to protest the outcome because of a questionable last-second penalty.

Kevin Anderson, the Pac-10's assistant championships director, said in a phone interview that he spoke with Tobias on Monday and informed him of the decision.

"He laid down the issues he had with what happened," Anderson said. "We discussed them, and we'll push forward."

Tobias received a red card and was ejected from the game against the Cougars after he disputed a roughing penalty called on redshirt senior forward Kelly Nelson at the 89:59 mark, with the Wildcats leading 1-0.

Washington State midfielder Carmen Anderson - no relation to Kevin Anderson - converted the subsequent penalty kick and later scored the winning goal.

Tobias, who has not returned calls seeking comment, wanted to protest the game to overturn Arizona's loss, Kevin Anderson said, but was unsuccessful because referees' calls in soccer cannot be reversed under NCAA rules.

"There is no protest," Kevin Anderson said. "The game stands as it is."

Tobias received his second red card of the season Sunday and must sit out the Wildcats' next scheduled game Friday against California, Kevin Anderson said.

Tobias earned his first red card of 2005 for arguing with a referee during a 1-0 overtime win against Utah on Sept. 16 at Murphey Stadium.

The Wildcats ended up with a 1-1 double-overtime tie against New Mexico two days later under assistant coach Harold Warren, as Tobias watched the game from the bleachers.