Goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands takes a goal kick during the Terps’ 1-0 loss to Michigan on Sept. 19 at Ludwig Field.

The Terrapins women’s soccer team controlled its own destiny.

A win against No. 6 Penn State last night at Jeffrey Field would have guaranteed the Terps a spot in the Big Ten tournament, which begins next week in West Lafayette, Indiana.

But instead of clinching a tournament berth, the Terps fell to the Nittany Lions, 1-0, and will not learn their postseason fate until after tomorrow’s results.

“At the end of the day,” coach Jonathan Morgan said, “we just haven’t been dangerous enough.”

Early on, both teams focused on maintaining possession. While the Terps (5-7-6, 3-5-5 Big Ten) passed the ball around their backline, the Nittany Lions (17-2-0, 12-1-0) controlled the ball with their midfielders.

While doing so, the Nittany Lions waited for someone to break free downfield. And in the 25th minute, defender Maddie Elliston located forward Frannie Crouse, who had slid behind the defense.

After using one touch to beat Terps defender Kayla Shea, Crouse beat goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands with a right-footed shot to the near post. With her team-leading ninth goal of the season, Crouse put the Terps in an early hole.

“We didn’t get a good bump on her, and we tried to go step for step instead of getting our body in between her and the ball,” Morgan said. “We didn’t make the right choice.”

Though the Terps had plenty of time to net the equalizer, their offense continued to sputter. Morgan’s team had two shots on goal — both in the first half — and managed six attempts overall.

Their lackluster offensive performance against the Nittany Lions mirrored their play in the attacking third throughout the season. Entering last night’s match, the Terps ranked second-last in the Big Ten with 17 goals.

Even the Terps’ best opportunities failed to test goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom. After a corner kick trickled to the edge of the box, midfielder Aubrey Baker had an open look at net. But her shot sailed softly into the hands of Eckerstrom, who made two saves.

Morgan acknowledged the quality of the Nittany Lions backline — Penn State ranks third in the conference in goals allowed — but said the Terps’ struggles were more self-inflicted.

“I don’t know if it’s so much Penn State or if it’s just us,” Morgan said. “We have opportunities to slip passes behind, or we have opportunities to deliver a cross, or we have opportunities to get shots off, and we just shut down and don’t execute in that part of the field.”

Baker said the Terps were active in the attacking third in the first half, but added that Penn State made some halftime adjustments, which slowed down their offense.

“They switched the ball a lot more and a lot faster,” Baker said. “And they had their outside backs come up and dribble and be a part of the attack.”

The ineptitude of their offense, combined with Penn State’s stout defense, resulted in the Terps’ failing to score for the ninth time this season.

Despite their lack of scoring, the Terps remain in the running for the eighth and final seed in the Big Ten tournament.

If Ohio State, Northwestern and Nebraska all lose tomorrow night, the Terps will have a rematch with Penn State in the Big Ten quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon.

But the Terps’ odds of qualifying for that match are now out of their control.

“Unfortunately, it comes down to just us waiting around,” midfielder Sarah Fichtner said. “But it is what it is, so we just have to wait and see.”