The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
That’s exactly what the Long Beach State women’s soccer team did Thursday night as they continued to put pressure on Hawai’i before freshman Natelle El Mokbel delivered a game-winning header to give the Beach a 2-1 season-opening victory at George Allen Field.
“I just saw my teammate Ameera (White) going for the ball,” El Mokbel said about what was going through her mind before scoring in the 87th minute. “We practice it so many times during training. As soon as Ameera went for the ball I went for the ball, the ball was perfect and it was amazing.”
The goal couldn’t have come at a better moment as the Beach outshot Hawai’i 16-5 and we’re heading to a draw that could have left the team asking “What If?”.
Junior Radisson Banks gave LBSU a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute as she wasted no time putting the Beach ahead early in the contest.
“That first goal meant a lot to me,” Banks said. “Just transferring, dealt with the difficult time, but to get that first one and the first game of matches – it just gave me a lot of confidence. I saw the keeper was out, just tried the chipper and the rest of history. Just really appreciative that my teammate saw me and was able to get on the board early.”
Hawai’i (0-1) showed why they are the defending Big West champions as Leila Kahoano responded to tie the match 1-1 in the 20th minute.
“Very exciting,” Long Beach State coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. “This was a very tough first game. We’re playing the defending conference champs that returned 20 players. So I give (Hawai’i) a lot of credit. Going on the road and playing the toughest schedule that they do.”
LBSU (1-0) didn’t back down from the challenge and showed signs of what could be possible as the Beach continues to play together and build chemistry as the season progresses.
Along with Brooklyn Antonucci back to be a leader on the defensive line, Banks and Cherrie Cox showed on multiple occasions throughout the night with various chances that didn’t connect.
“That connection needs to grow, and it will,” Ingrassia said. “Cherrie didn’t play last year for us, didn’t play a single game of spring, so this is first time Raddy and Cherrie are hooking up. I think once we watch film and we see tendencies and we give them little tidbits here and there of how they can become more dynamic together, I think you’re going to see a deadly pair.”
While Cox and Banks didn’t connect as many times as they had the opportunity to, the duo will continue to get chances as the Beach has another test on Sunday when they host Texas at 7 p.m.
“I love Cherrie,” Banks said. “She’s so easy to play with. She’s a calm player on the ball, very composed. Our relationship is gonna have to grow in chemistry a little bit. But every practice we’re getting better.”
Along with some of the collegiate experience LBSU has, Ingrassia is looking forward to how some of the young players like El Mokbel develop as the season progresses.
“Her thing is about speed of play,” Ingrassia said. “And using her skill in the right places. She’s very skillful.”
