STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – No. 8 BYU dropped its first game of the 2017 season 3-1 Friday night at Jeffrey Field, despite freshman Cameron Tucker's first collegiate goal.

"I think the pressure got to us a little bit," BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. "I love some of the stuff we did tonight. There's a lot we can build on."

BYU at Penn State Box Score

It didn't take the Nittany Lions long to get on the board, as Marissa Sheva took a pass from Charlotte Williams and capitalized on a one-on-one opportunity against BYU keeper Hannah Clark in the 10th minute.

Clark made a nice save in the 29th minute, bolting forward to snuff out another one-on-one effort. She had a tough stop in the 38th minute, batting away a drive in heavy traffic from close range. 

Penn State led 1-0 heading into the half. The Cougars had just three shots before the break compared to the Nittany Lions' eight.

Tucker's goal was the result of a freshman combination as Mikayla Colohan sent a cross from the right side through the box for Elise Flake or Tucker, who were both streaking toward the goal. The ball got past Flake, and Tucker got enough of a touch on it to put it just inside the left post to tie the game at 1-1 in the 58th minute.

In the 62nd minute, Penn State retook the lead. Alina Ortega-Jurado drove a shot from outside the 18-yard box that deflected off a Cougar and got past a diving Clark in the bottom-right corner of the net.

Sheva made it a 3-1 Nittany Lion lead after a couple deflections in the 65th minute. The BYU defense blocked shots but couldn't possess the ball as Sheva took advantage.

On the game, the Cougars wound up with 11 shots compared to Penn State's 14.

The home opener for BYU will be Monday at 5:30 MDT on South Field against Ohio State. BYUtv will broadcast the game on live television and an online stream, and radio broadcasts can be heard on BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143), ESPN 960 AM and at BYUCougars.com.

PROVO, Utah – The No. 8 BYU women's soccer team heads to Penn State Friday to kick off its 2017 regular season.

BYU at Penn State Game Notes

BYU Storylines

Jennifer Rockwood's team has has changed a lot since its NCAA tournament third-round run last year. The Cougars lost top goal-scorers Ashley Hatch and Michele Vasconcelos. Seven new signees and two returned missionaries joined the squad. Returning, however, are 2015 West Coast Conference Player of the Year Nadia Gomes and All-American Taylor Isom. Hannah Clark remains in goal after a breakout 2016 season.

BYU garnered a No. 8 ranking in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll. The Cougars were voted narrowly to finish second in the WCC behind Santa Clara. They'll go for their sixth-straight conference title and 19th NCAA tournament berth.

Brittain Steiner has played well in BYU's exhibitions, scoring a goal in the Blue and White game and against Oklahoma last weekend.

Penn State Storylines

The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten regular-season title last year. They beat Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to Virginia.

This season, Penn State starts the season unranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll. However, Top Drawer Soccer ranked their recruiting class No. 4 and placed the Nittany Lions as the No. 1 team in their 2017 preseason poll. Big Ten coaches picked Penn State to win the league title.

Frannie Crouse returns as a senior, after scoring a team-leading 12 goals last season. Sophomore goalkeeper Amanda Dennis is regarded as one of the best in the nation.

Game Information

• Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. EDT, at Jeffrey Field
• Video Stream: GoPSUSports.com
• Radio: BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143) and ESPN 960 AM
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell (play-by-play) and Paige Barker (analyst)

Series Information

BYU leads 2-0. The Cougars won 3-2 last season at No. 5 Penn State, thanks to an Ashley Hatch hat trick.