Maryland men’s lacrosse allowed 19 goals — the most it has ever surrendered under coach John Tillman — in last season’s Big Ten tournament semifinal loss to Penn State. Nearly a year later, the Terps are set to face the Nittany Lions in the same round.

Last season’s disastrous defensive showing was foreshadowed by struggles throughout the regular season. Maryland ranked in the bottom half of the conference in goals allowed per game last year.

But the Terps’ defense has been the driving force behind their best record since an undefeated 2022 campaign.

No. 3 Maryland has given up the second-fewest goals a game nationally, conceding almost three fewer scores a game than last season. The Terps’ defense, which has allowed double-digit goals just twice this season, will have a chance to stifle the Nittany Lions on Thursday and secure a spot in the Big Ten championship.

“There were times last year where it just didn’t feel like we were on the same page,” Tillman said. “On the defensive end [this season], those guys have been in sync.”

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The Nittany Lions tied for the conference lead in goals per game, though the Terps held them to a season-low scoring output in a 13-8 win in March.

Defender Will Schaller set career-highs with four ground balls and three caused turnovers in that game. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has consistently defended the opposing teams’ top attackers, filling the role that former All-American Ajax Zappitello previously held.

“[Schaller] obviously has some great physical traits in terms of his lateral movement, his lower body strength,” Tillman said. “But man, you look at what he does on the field, there’s a level of grit, toughness.”

Schaller made multiple defensive-altering plays in the Terps’ March bout with the Nittany Lions. The junior made a diving save along the sideline to keep the ball-in-play, leading to a transition goal.

The defensive midfield was under frequent pressure against the Nittany Lions, who won 16 of 24 faceoffs. Penn State has reshaped its faceoff attack this season, looking to improve its early-possession offense, Tillman said

But even when teams have found holes in Maryland’s defense, goalkeeper Logan McNaney has been elite at stopping close shots. The Tewaaraton Award Watch List honoree ranks fourth nationally in save percentage.

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McNaney used his foot to block a point-blank shot and seal the Terps’ victory in the final seconds of a national championship rematch against Notre Dame in March. The graduate student notched a season-high 16 saves against the Fighting Irish’s high-powered offense, before breaking Maryland’s all-time save record in a win over Ohio State.

“He never gets too high on the highs or too low on the lows, he’s a very steady presence back there,” defensive midfielder Zack Goorno said. “That gives us a lot of composure and confidence.”

Every aspect of Maryland’s defense faltered in last year’s blowout loss to Penn State. McNaney played arguably the worst game of his career, nine different Nittany Lions scored and the 10-goal deficit ended the Terps’ conference tournament run in the semifinals.

“I think we’d be crazy not looking back a little bit to say, ‘Whatever we did, burn it,’” Tillman said.

But a year later, McNaney and Maryland’s defense enter Thursday’s contest allowing just eight goals per game in each of its last four contests — and with a chance to get postseason redemption against the Nittany Lions.