Long Beach State sophomore defender Natalie Arnold attempts to meet a cross in the UC San Diego box during a match at George Allen Field on Thursday, Oct. 23. The Beach fell short of a goal, taking a split zero draw. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current
Long Beach State (5-6-5) junior forward Radisson Banks takes pride in being an offensive firework ready to explode. Still, her controlled offense fell short of any success in a scoreless draw against UC San Diego (4-6-7) on Thursday, Oct. 23, at George Allen Field.
“Just a lot of missed opportunities,” Banks said. “As forwards, we have to be able to score and I take that with pride, being able to finish and I just have to be better.”
Long Beach State junior forward Raddison Banks urges her squad to continue to apply pressure after an unsuccessful drive toward UCSD’s goal at George Allen Field on Thursday night. Banks led the game in shots with one on goal and four in total. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current
With just three games remaining in the regular season heading into Thursday, The Beach had the opportunity to put themselves in the best position to qualify for the Big West Championships, but escaped with just one point towards their season total in the conference standings due to the draw.
The first shot of the game came inside the 15th minute as UCSD junior midfielder Alexis Nguyen fired a bullet from outside the box into LBSU junior goalkeeper Aurora Schuck’s hands for her first of five saves on the night.
Just three minutes later, LBSU sophomore midfielder Malea Johnson cross-passed to the left side of the field, finding Banks inside the box, as her first of her game-high four shots was blocked.
“We had a couple of really good looks, I thought we could have done better with,” LBSU head coach Mauricio Ingrassia said. [Facing a] good defensive team, you’re going to have to be clinical.”
The 21st minute featured the only shot on goal in the first half for The Beach offense by Johnson, as her shot from the right of the field glided into the hands of UCSD redshirt freshman goalkeeper Charlotte Wilfert, who leads the Big West in saves per game with 4.35.
Banks prompted her offense to continue applying pressure as LBSU freshman midfielder Ameera White curved her shot just over the crossbar for The Beach’s fourth and final shot of the first half.
Needing a win for the critical three points in the conference standings, The Beach offense came out flying as a 46th-minute LBSU corner landed on Banks’ chest, controlling the pass from LBSU junior defender Kylie Perez before soaring into the air for a bicycle kick attempt punched out by a leaping Wilfert.
UCSD goalkeeper Charlotte Wilfert bumps the ball, making a save after a bicycle kick by Long Beach State forward Raddison Banks at George Allen Field on Thursday night. Wilfert leads the Big West in saves per game. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current
“It could have been a spectacular night with [Banks’] bicycle, but the keeper was pretty good, so yeah, unfortunate…[Banks] was fantastic tonight,” Ingrassia said.
UCSD, which sits at eighth in the Big West standings just below LBSU, which resides in sixth, came out of the half attacking just as The Beach did, with both teams combining for six goal-less shots in the first 10 minutes of the second.
LBSU, who fell empty-handed on their game-leading seven corner kicks, gave up a late 88th-minute corner to the Tritons, who failed to connect for a game-winning goal, leaving both teams scoreless on the night.
“My team fought, played well, played very hard today, it wasn’t for a lack of trying,” Ingrassia said. “We got to finish strong these last two games.”
Ingrassia wants his team to stay together as they end their season on the road, taking on Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge in a last-ditch effort to qualify for the Big West Championship.