The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2026-27 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
While the season is young, the Long Beach State women’s soccer team is confident they can overcome any challenge.
So, when the Beach surrendered their first goal of the season – there was no panic. LBSU simply regrouped, stayed connected and in the 49th minute Radisson Banks scored the eventual game winner as the Beach defeated Portland 2-1 on Thursday night at George Allen Field.
It was a quality win against a tough team as LBSU won its fifth straight game for the first time since 2011 and matched their win total from last season.
“For me, yeah, it’s amazing getting on the scoresheet,” Banks said of her first goal of the season. “I am very, very grateful, but I’m just grateful that I got to compete with these girls and get the win and the result that we knew that we needed. Portland is an excellent team, an excellent program. We know their history and it’s a privilege to share the field with them and come out victorious.”
In the opening two minutes, it looked like Long Beach (5-0-1) might roll to a win after Ameera White tapped in a shot on cross from Cherrie Cox to give the Beach the lead and some early confidence against a quality Portland team. The opening was made possible in part to a run from Cassidy Drago that allowed White to attack.
It was a big moment for White who leads the team in assists with six, but had yet to find the back of the net herself.
“Drago made a great run from the post,” White said about what set up her goal. “We’ve been working on that all week. So for her to do that allowed me the opportunity, and all I had to do was tap it in.”
Portland (1-4) didn’t back down after the opening goal and controlled possession throughout the first half and Hailey Bagby tied the game 1-1 with a goal in the 32nd minute.
“I think, honestly, it took the pressure off,” White said of Portland tying the game. “It’s hard to be like, ‘Well, you haven’t conceded at all.’ So I think it took the pressure off a little bit, being like, ‘You don’t have to be perfect. We just have to get it out and grind it through.’”
The second half was exactly that as the Beach flipped the script and came out of the break as the aggressor keeping the Pilots on their heels for a majority of the half.
“We took our best punch in the first half,” Long Beach State coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “We bent but we didn’t break.”
That pressure eventually led to Banks’ go-ahead goal which was enough to secure the win.
In goal, Aurora Schuck continued her impressive start to the season with five saves.
Long Beach State will now head to Phoenix where they’ll take on a rested Grand Canyon University on Sunday before returning to George Allen Field to take on Utah Sept. 12.
