TIGARD -- Ghana's national women's soccer team is based in Portland, but has logged more than 1,000 miles so far, playing exhibition matches from one end of Washington state to the other.

"Traveling so much, that's how it will be," Ghana's Alberta Sackey said. "It's tiresome, but that's how it's supposed to be."

But Thursday, the team didn't have to go far to compete in its first "home" match of it's Women's World Cup tour. The Black Queens beat Portland State 2-1 in a friendly in front of about 1,000 fans at Tigard High School, its primary training facility.

This friendly was friendly. Hundreds of youth soccer players in town to compete in the Chinook Cup tournament dotted the stands and lined the track along one side of the field. A band playing traditional Ghana music provided the backbeat in the Black Queens' first win, after playing a team of Spokane all-stars to a 0-0 tie, a 1-1 tie against Canada's national team and a 2-1 loss against Washington State in Pullman.

PSU's Jamie Blakesley, a former Centennial High School standout, scored first, in the 11th minute, off an assist from Kari Otani.

"This is just a great experience," Blakesley said. "We played pretty well against a team that could go far in the World Cup. We'll be cheering for the Americans, of course, but we'll be pulling for Ghana, too."

Ghana's Mavis Djangmah tied the game 1-1 in the 28th minute of the first 30-minute half.

Ghana's second goal came in the 44th minute, from Mimi Osei-Agyemang.

"The purpose of this tour is to sharpen our game, and we're doing that," Osei-Agyemang said. "We still need to work on our teamwork -- this is only my third game with the team -- but we're improving."

Notes:

The time and the venue for Ghana's match on Monday against the NCAA-champion University of Portland have been changed. The game is set for 2:30 p.m. at Merlo Field. . . . Oregon State's women's team lost 3-0 to the Costa Rica national team Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica. OSU (3-1) will finish its five-game tour with a rematch against the national team on Saturday. The Beavers' regular season begins Aug. 29 at San Diego State. Molly Blue: 503-221-8161; mollyblue@news.oregonian.com