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PORTLAND, Ore. — Heartbreak doesn't erase promise, right?
 
That's what the Portland State women's soccer team will hope for after they went up 1-0 on cross-town rival and national powerhouse University of Portland Friday at Merlo Field, only to see the Pilots comeback with two goals in the second half to beat the Vikings, 2-1.
 
The Pilots (1-0-0) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 84th minute from Hannah Griffiths Boston. The Pilots scored the game-winner despite the Vikings (0-1-0) holding a one-player advantage due to the Pilots' Natalie Muth receiving a second yellow in the 80th minute.
 
"We may have lost, but our players exuded confidence and took steps to build the foundation we'll need going into conference," PSU head coach Katie Burton said after her first match at the helm for the Vikings. "Their work rate and determination was exceptional. This team can go places if we can continue to build our chemistry and play the way we played today."
 
Sophomore forward Regan Russell put the Vikings up early with a goal in the 14th minute, giving the Vikings their first-ever goal against UP in a counting match. A UP handball deep in the Vikings' attacking half gave the Vikings a free kick just outside the top left corner of the box. Redshirt senior defender Kristin Moyer took the free kick, and Russell headed it in off the near post for her first career goal as a Viking.
 
The Vikings stayed on the front foot following the goal, and were outshooting UP 4-0 before UP finally recorded a shot in the 25th minute. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Abbie Faingold made a strong save on UP's first shot of the match, punching a direct header from Boston off the crossbar.
 
Boston got past Faingold in the 47th minute, however, converting a cross from Kimbery Hazlett to level the match at 1-1.
 
The Vikings nearly took the advantage back right away with a couple of chances in the 49th minute. Redshirt sophomore defender Maxine Nagramada sent a shot on goal off a corner that UP goalkeeper Rachel Lusby had to tap up off the crossbar to save. Freshman forward Ellie Vasey fielded the rebound, but she sailed her follow-up shot well over the crossbar.
 
The Vikings again threatened in the 70th minute, when senior midfielder Katie Forsee headed a corner just past the left post.
 
UP's Taryn Ries returned the favor with a dangerous header of her own a minute later that Faingold made a diving punch to keep out of the net. UP owned the period of play following Ries' shot, outshooting the Vikings 5-1 before Boston's PK broke the tie with just over six minutes to go.
 
Friday's result stands as the Vikings' best-ever performance against the Pilots, who had beaten them in all seven previous matches by a combined score of 31-0. The Vikings had only lost by less than two goals once before, when they lost 1-0 in 2010. The Pilots outshot the Vikings 27-2 in that match, however, a far cry from the even, 14-14 on shots, performance in Friday's match.
 
"The team is showing promise with the decisions they are making on both sides of the ball," Burton said. "We were proud as a staff to see all these players' hard work come to fruition."
 
The Vikings will get a second chance to turn that promise into prosperity next Friday, when they host Nevada at 1 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fall to 0-8-0 all-time against UP with Friday's loss…The Vikings' entire senior class played all 90 minutes in Faingold, Forsee, Moyer, Rachel Michieli and Lauren Owens, as well as freshman Rilee Castilla…The Vikings tied UP in total shots with 14, and outshot the Pilots in shots on goal, 6-4.