The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Long Beach State junior Radisson Banks admitted the last month and half hasn’t been easy for her. She wants to impact the game the best way she can, and that’s when she’s able to score and put opponents on their heels.
After not converting on her last 26 shot attempts heading into Sunday’s contest, Banks’ fourth goal of the season came right when the Beach needed it.
In the 73rd minute, Banks eyed a ball that was deflected, lined up her shot and lofted a goal just out of the reach of the Guachos’ goalkeeper that was the equalizer against UC Santa Barbara.
Banks’ goal was just what the Beach needed as they picked up one point in a 1-1 tie on Sunday afternoon at George Allen Field.
“I’m not gonna lie this season has been difficult for me,” Banks said. “I’m a goal scorer and to not have (as many) goals in this game and in the season, was frustrating, so to get that meant everything to me. I just felt like I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself these last few games just trying to score and to finally see it go in, I think that that’s going to be the first of many.”
The Beach (5-6-4, 2-2-3) was the aggressor for almost the entirety of the game, and outshot the Gauchos 6-1 in the first half. However, in the 52nd minute – Caitlyn Simons scored to give UCSB a 1-0 lead.
But, the Beach didn’t let up. They continued to pressure the Guachos and had some good looks including a shot off the post by Banks in the 67th minute.
Brooklyn Antonucci had a nice look outside the box but it was just high deflecting off the top of the goal in the 72nd. A minute later Banks was in just the right place when she scored on the deflection to help get LBSU a crucial point heading into the final three games of the season.
“I thought it was one way traffic the entire game,” Long Beach State coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “I was very proud of my team. Because we had a lot of adversity and for them to go down one and fight as hard as they did, it showed tremendous grit that we are headed in the right direction.”
That grit will need to continue as the Beach needs to continue win if they want a shot at making it to the Big West Tournament. That will start on Thursday when LBSU hosts UC San Diego on Thursday at 6 p.m.
“Every point matters,” Banks said. “I know we should have won, but at the end of the day, we can’t control what other people do. We can only control we did, what we do.”
