UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A Penn State team which managed just three goals for the season scored in the second minute last night.

Conversely, a Terrapin men’s soccer player who had racked up seven goals this season and 45 in his career was held scoreless – along with his team – for the entire game.

Despite controlling the ball for much of the contest, the Terps failed to overcome Penn State’s early goal, falling to the unranked Nittany Lions, 1-0, at Jeffrey Field.

“Our back line played very arrogantly at the beginning and gave away too many chances,” Terp coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We have too many senior players that should get us off to better starts in big games like this on the road.”

In his first game since tying the Terps’ all-time career goals record, senior forward Jason Garey consistently contended with double teams and had only two shot attempts.

The No. 6-ranked Terps (5-2-0) had their four-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 1-2 on the road.

Before some of the 555 in attendance settled in, junior forward Simon Omekanda beautifully guided a header past Terp goalie Craig Salvati – the lone Nittany Lion first-half shot on goal.

“We didn’t really come out ready to play, and it showed in the first 90 seconds,” senior defender Michael Dello-Russo said. “It’s tough when you go away and try to play from behind.”

The Terps’ frustration was evident. Garey and senior defender Chris Lancos each got involved in extracurricular physical activity, with Garey picking up a yellow card after he delivered a two-handed shove to Nittany Lion defender Markhu Viitanen.

Garey, visibly upset, didn’t hesitate in letting the official know.

Cirovski also drew a yellow card for arguing an offsides call that wiped away an apparent Robbie Rogers goal 13 minutes into the game. Although one official displayed his flag, the play was not blown dead, leading Rogers to believe he hadn’t committed a penalty. Rogers eased into the center of the box and whipped a shot by goalie Conrad Taylor.

“I thought we scored a great goal, and it was not counted,” Cirovski said.

Cirovski remained hot throughout, and spent a few minutes winding down with Penn State coach Barry Gorman after the game.

“We were both unhappy with a certain aspect of the game, which we can’t mention,” Gorman said. “He’s a friend, and I don’t want him saying something or doing something that [he] might regret later on.”

Outside of their disputed non-goal, the Terps put only one shot on goal – and even that was a weak header by Garey that looked more like a crossing attempt than a shot.

Prior to last night, Penn State (2-4-1) had gone scoreless in four of its first six games. Once the Nittany Lions capitalized in the game’s second minute, the Terps did respond and only allowed two other shots on goal.

Salvati kept his team within striking distance when he stepped up outside of the goalie box and made a solid save from a shot taken just feet away about midway through the second half. But the Terps didn’t muster a strong scoring chance in the game’s final minutes.

Contact reporter Daniel Chiat at chiatdbk@gmail.com.