Long Beach State Soccer Begins Big West Play In Rematch With Hawai'i

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State closes their current homestand on Thursday, hosting Hawai'i in a rematch of the season opener to kick off Big West action. Live coverage will of the game from George Allen Field will be broadcast on ESPN+, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

KICKOFF
• The Beach is unbeaten on their current homestand. Long Beach State opened the month with a dominant 6-0 win over Nevada, and then battled to a 1-1 draw against San Diego. In the team's last game, Cherrie Cox and Natelle El Mokbel each scored to lead the Beach to a 2-1 win over New Mexico State.

• Freshman Natelle El Mokbel was named the Big West Freshman of the Week, the first winner of the season for the Beach. El Mokbel scored her second game-winner of the year, an absolute strike from just outside of the box to give Long Beach State a 2-1 lead over New Mexico State as the Beach grabbed the win despite playing nearly 80 minutes down a player after an early red card. El Mokbel also had four shots, three on goal against San Diego to earn the award.

• Opening the season on George Allen Field, Long Beach State had a sparkling start to the season in a non-conference matchup against preseason Big West favorites, Hawai'i. Radisson Banks opened the scoring with an early goal, and freshman Natelle El Mokbel headed home the game-winner off of an Ameera White free kick to give the Beach a 2-1 win over the Rainbow Wahine.

• Long Beach State set or tied numerous offensive records during a comprehensive 6-0 win over Nevada. The six goals and 6-goal margin were both tied for the most in school history, while the team's eight assists setting up those goals broke a school record, set in 2013 when the program had seven assists against Cincinnati.

Kailey Supa had a brace for Long Beach State as the sophomore doubled her career goal total at the Beach against the Wolf Pack, while junior Radisson Banks played a part in four goals, setting up the opener for Cherrie Cox who buried her own rebound, making two assists and scoring one of her own. 10 players in total either scored or had an assist for the Beach while Aurora Schuck closed out her first shutout of the season, making three saves.

• The Beach is now 2-1 at home at George Allen Field and will play their next three games at home on the campus of Long Beach State.

• In the second game of the season, Long Beach State controlled much of the action against No. 19 Texas, outshooting the Longhorns 20-11 and taking a 1-0 lead after Cherrie Cox buried a rebound after a shot from Natalie Arnold. Two goals in the second half by Texas allowed the Longhorns to slip away with a 2-1 victory as the Beach split their games on the opening week.

• Head Coach Mauricio Ingrassia enters his 22nd year at the helm of the program. Ingrassia earned his 200th win with the Beach during the 2024 season and is readying his team for a run at a return to the postseason in 2025.

• Cherrie Cox was one of 11 players selected as Preseason All-Big West as the conference announced their preseason awards. Cox was the 2023 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, and was recognized as a standout player in advance of the season. The Beach was picked to finish fourth in the 11-team league by the coaches in the preseason coaches' poll.

• The Beach had a strong offensive start to the season, scoring three goals and piling up 36 shots over the first two games with 20 on target. Long Beach State is now outshooting their opponents 103-64 on the year.

PLAYER NOTES
• Cherrie Cox returns for Long Beach State and has played a major part in the team's success this season. The Big West Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, Cherrie Cox missed last season but has returned for her junior season, and leads Long Beach State with four goals while adding two assists for 10 total points on the year. The star junior will miss time due to a suspension following a red card against New Mexico State however.

• Radisson Banks has made a huge impact in the forward line for Long Beach State. A transfer from Washington, Banks leads Long Beach State in most offensive categories, starting every game and leading the team with 32 shots including 18 on goal, while scoring three goals and adding two assists in her first season in Long Beach.

• Anchoring the back line for Long Beach State will be junior Zoe Willis. Willis has now started 33 straight games for the Beach and played every minute of the 2024 season. She has played nearly every minute for Long Beach State dating back to October 8, 2023, coming out for just two minutes this season.

• Another key player returning after missing the full 2024 season is Brooklyn Antonucci. An All-Big West selection as well as an All-Freshman Team pick in her first season, Antonucci played over 1,700 minutes on the back line as a true freshman, starting every game and contributing six assists. Antonucci has started every game so far this season for Long Beach State.

• One of Long Beach State's most veteran players is Logan Nidy, the lone senior on the roster after transferring from San Diego State. Nidy spent three seasons with the Aztecs, including starting 13 games and playing nearly 1,200 minutes last season, providing a goal and three assists on the year. Nidy has played big minutes for Long Beach State while playing in wide positions, totaling nearly 600 minutes so far in 2025.

• Junior goalkeeper Aurora Schuck has played every minute in goal over each of the last two seasons for Long Beach State. Making her first shutout of the season against Nevada, Schuck has made 26 saves so far this season, including a season-high six against No. 19 Texas. As a sophomore, Schuck made 74 saves and had five shutouts, including two straight against Cornell and UC Riverside, earning Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 23, 2024.

• Junior Kana Uchida remains another solid defensive presence for Long Beach State. Now with over 3500 minutes played in her career, Uchida has started 45 games in her time at the Beach, the most of any player on the LBSU roster. Uchida started all 18 games for Long Beach State last season and has contributed five assists during her time at the Beach.

• Junior Jordan Candelaria returns as a starter for Long Beach State in the midfield. Long Beach State's team captain has started in every game this season for the Beach. The junior scored her first goal of the season against Nevada and is one of six outfield players with over 500 minutes played this season.

• Sophomore Kailey Supa scored a brace against Nevada, and now has four goals during her career at Long Beach State.

• Two other returning players saw over 500 minutes of action last season in Kylie Perez and Natalie Arnold. Perez has made three starts this season for Long Beach State, while Arnold has played in all eight games, starting six while taking three shots and making an assist in 2025.

• Two freshman have made a significant impact in the early portion of the season for Long Beach State. Canadian International Natelle El Mokbel has now twice scored a game-winning goal, first in the season opener against Hawai'i and most recently against NM State. The freshman is third on the team in shots taken and trails just Banks in shots on goal during the season. Further back on the field, Ameera While is tied for third on the team with four points while starting six games as a midfielder.

• Sophomore Julie Lopez has also returned for Long Beach State after missing last season's action and has had a promising start. Starting four games and playing in every game this season, Lopez recorded her first assist of 2025 against Nevada and is among the leaders in shots taken.

• Others with over 100 minutes played in the early portion of the season include sophomore Malea Johnson and a trio of freshmen in Hannah Peters, Ruby Mansour and Thilde Alvberger.

THE OPPOSITION
• In a unique twist to the season, Long Beach State and Hawai'i have already played once this season at George Allen Field, as a late winner from Natelle El Mokbel gave the Beach a 2-1 win to open the 2025 campaign. Since then, the Rainbow Wahine have posted a 2-4-3 overall record, with wins over Central Arkansas and on the road at Sacramento State.

• Long Beach State now leads the all-time series 12-3-4, and are 8-1-2 all-time at George Allen Field, unbeaten against Hawai'i at home since 2003.

Calendar

Long Beach State Soccer Begins Big West Play In Rematch With Hawai'i

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Players Mentioned

Thilde Alvberger

Brooklyn Antonucci

Natalie Arnold

Radisson Banks

Jordan Candelaria

Cherrie Cox

Natelle El Mokbel

Malea Johnson

Julie Lopez

Ruby Mansour

Logan Nidy

Kylie Perez

Hannah Peters

Aurora Schuck

Kailey Supa

Kana Uchida

Ameera White

Zoe Willis

Long Beach State University Athletics