Will Schaller made just eight starts across his first two seasons for Maryland men’s lacrosse. But the junior earned the Terps’ sole first team All-American honor this year, Inside Lacrosse announced Thursday.

Schaller notched a career-best 22 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls this season while consistently guarding top attackers. The defender seamlessly filled the role former All-American Ajax Zappitello held in previous seasons.

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

In the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, Schaller held standout attackers Josh Yago and Aidan Carroll to two and three points, respectively. He recorded a career-high four ground balls and three caused turnovers in a regular-season matchup against then-No. 7 Penn State. Schaller also contributed to Maryland’s defense ranking second nationally in goals allowed per game.

[In first meeting since 2012, Maryland men’s lacrosse tops Georgetown, 9-6, in second round]

Goalkeeper Logan McNaney earned second team honors after conceding his lowest goals average against this season. The graduate student allowed double-digit goals only three times.

Junior short-stick defensive midfielder Eric Kolar also made the second team after a career-high 10 caused turnovers, while graduate long-stick defensive midfielder Jack McDonald earned a third team selection. McDonald has a team-high 46 ground balls and has frequently led breakaways.

Braden Erksa, Bryce Ford and Eric Spanos received honorable mentions.

[A look at Maryland men’s lacrosse’s path to a fifth NCAA championship]

Erksa’s campaign has been inconsistent. The junior attacker leads the Big Ten in turnovers, but has scored in every game — including four hat tricks.

Ford — the only honored player in his first season with the Terps — transferred from Fairfield last offseason. The graduate student midfielder has eight multi-score games this season and has led a strong offense.

Spanos leads Maryland in points after moving exclusively to attack this season, scoring a career-high six goals against Air Force in the first round of the NCAA tournament. His selection marks the second-straight year that he has earned an All-American honor.