A worn out Reigna Banks walks through the soccer pitch at the Regency Athletic Complex with her navy blue backpack drooping from both of her shoulders and a left ankle wrapped tightly with medical cloth. The setting sun glimmers off her sweat-coated skin, a sight that defines a standout performance: two goals scored in a shutout of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival, No. 23 Colorado State University – Pueblo.

What she sees in front of her fixes her slouch and rediscovers the pep she had at the beginning of the mid-afternoon game; five young girls holding MSU Denver athletics mini posters eagerly awaiting an autograph from their newfound idol.

The energy that invigorates the young girls is the same that elevates her teammates.

A senior from Bakersfield, California, Banks has seen her fair share of ups and downs in the program. From playing on a top-25 ranked school in 2015 to finishing 8-9 a year ago, the only consistent theme to her collegiate career has been strong individual performances occasionally backed by stellar teamwork.

The 2018 season continues the sporadic story, but Banks isn’t complaining. The newest chapter involves a slew of contributing freshman and game changing transfers to make for a squad that’s ranked No. 11 in the nation.

“This is probably one of my favorite teams,” Banks said. “We have a lot more weapons to contribute in every single position. It just makes it so much easier. I don’t have to try to do everything. I know that somebody can play me the exact ball that I want.”



Just six games into the 2018 season Banks already has nine goals, a number that’s not only a career high, but one that puts her atop the nation.

The stat pushes the notion that she’s far and away above everyone else on the team and RMAC. But her demeanor and actions on the field, two things that are often not measurable in a box score, say something else.

This iteration of the Roadrunners figures to be the best in Banks’ tenure, and it’s because of the array of talent beyond the 5-foot-4-inch senior.

Through six matches in 2017, the injury stricken Roadrunners were just 2-4 with four goals scored on the season through three players — none of whom were Banks.

Now, with the third week of the season, and the first of RMAC play in the books, the women have scored 17 times, with five different players contributing to the cause.

The only other Roadrunner to tally multiple scores is Gabriela “YaeYa” Gamboa, a first-year transfer from Division I Northwestern State University.

When Gamboa left Natchitoches, Louisiana and arrived in the relatively big city, she noticed a more intense attitude immediately, and while the coaching staff may have instilled that culture, soccer isn’t a coaches’ game — it’s a players’. In order for the on-field energy to flow through the team, it must have a source. Banks provided that over the weekend against a top-25 opponent in CSU Pueblo.

“Reigna brings a huge aspect to the team. She’s our leading goal scorer right now, she brings a lot to the team and it just helps a lot,” Gamboa said. “When she scored that first one, we were so hype.”

After an early goal, the Roadrunners were looking to establish some distance between them and the Thunderwolves. In the 34th minute, a Roadrunner corner kick bounced to junior Nayeli Baez, and was then mishit by junior Brooklyn Mooney, but freshman Luna Garcia was able to keep the ball from going into the goalkeeper’s box and roll it to the feet of Banks on a platter.

This left Banks with an easy shot, allowing her to sink her ninth goal of the season. Her four goal performance on the weekend earned her RMAC player of the week.

“Good players get themselves in the right places at the right time, and opportunities open themselves. It’s a domino effect of the roles and the people around her,” said head coach Tracy Chao.



With personal standards of an All-American selection and at least 15 goals and 10 assists on the season, Banks has established what she wants from herself. But above all, she wants to reach a mountain-like milestone: the NCAA tournament.

Banks and the team have only begun their ascent to the peak for their 2018 season. A sweep to begin the RMAC season is nice, but they just left base camp. The summit isn’t even in sight.

“We haven’t hit any of our marks, it’s just the first game of the season. We want to win big. Nobody’s going to remember us beating New Mexico Highlands 4-0,” Banks said. “They’re going to remember when we win the RMAC, or we win the RMAC tournament, or we go to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. This is just a stepping stone to the end goal.”

The Roadrunners’ season-long trek to the top is a long and grueling path. In order to get there, they’ll need a full team of committed, ambitious athletes, not just one player. That being said, it’s hard to imagine that their guide through the storm will be anyone else but Reigna Banks.