The game lived up to its billing.

Two of the nations top teams battling in what could possibly be a preview of a late-round NCAA tournament game.

And when the dust settled, it was the defending national champion and perennial powerhouse over the challenging new kid on the block.

The No. 8 Penn State women's soccer team (5-2-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten) fell to No. 1 North Carolina (7-1) 1-0 Friday night at the Adidas College Challenge in Spring, Texas.

The only goal of the contest came in the 37th minute when Tar Heels forward Raven McDonald beat Lions junior goalkeeper Emily Oleksiuk with a header after Oleksiuk made an initial save on Tar Heels defender Tina Murphy.

Tar Heels goalkeeper Kristen DePlatchett made the lead stick despite the Lions efforts to find the back of the net.

Three of the Lions' shots rang off the post and another shot dangerously dinged the crossbar.

"Without any improvement in our play we could have won 4-1," Penn State women's soccer coach Pat Farmer said. "We were really unlucky."

Farmer said that with 10 minutes left in the game, Lions sophomore forward Christie Welsh maneuvered around everyone including DePlatchett, but her shot to tie the game found the post and not the back of the net.

Despite the loss, Farmer was happy with his squad's performance.

"The only thing disappointing was the score," he said.

"We were really dangerous. At one point it looked like we slowed down to their speed," Farmer said.

Both keepers played good games, with Oleksiuk stopping seven shots and DePlatchett turning away six.

The game was a homecoming for Lions junior midfielder Bonnie Young, who hails from Spring, Texas.

This gave the Lions an advantage.

Fans were in the stands rooting for the Lions despite being a time zone away from their home field.

"My whole club team, most of the younger girls were out there cheering for us," Young said.

"It's nice to be home."

The Lions had the unlucky draw of catching the Tar Heels after a loss.

Clemson snapped the Heels' 24-match winning streak Wednesday, so North Carolina was determined to start a new winning streak.

Although North Carolina was winning national championships before varsity women's soccer was even dreamed of at Penn State, the Lions have proven they can hang with the Heels.

They've dropped two heartbreakers on neutral turf and upset the Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C.

"We definitely know we have the ability to play with them," Young said.

"And, hopefully, beat them if we face them again."