COLLEGE PARK, Md. — For the second straight week, No. 4 Maryland was on the ropes.

No. 9 Penn had outplayed the Terps over the first two-and-a half quarters and led 15-9 with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter.

But as Richmond learned last week, Maryland’s offense finds another gear at exactly the right moment. With their backs against the wall again, the Terps responded with eight straight goals to storm back for a 17-15 victory.

“They were taking it to us for a good amount of that game,” Maryland coach John Tillman said. “Our guys just kept battling, just like last week. They kept battling, and I’m proud of them for that.”

Maryland has shown its offensive firepower early in 2020, but pulled off this comeback without major contributions from Tewaaraton finalist Jared Bernhardt.

After scoring four goals in the first half, Penn chose to have freshman Peter Blake shut off Bernhardt, whose only point in the run was an assist to Anthony DeMaio that cut the deficit to 15-12 with 13:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Bernhardt being shut off allowed the supporting cast to step up. Logan Wisnauskas bounced in a goal with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, and Daniel Maltz wrapped around the goal to score 57 seconds later. DeMaio got Maryland started in the fourth quarter, and Maltz continued the run with a goal on the doorstep on an extra-man opportunity with 12:29 to go in the fourth. Three minutes later, the freshman struck again for another man-up goal to cut the lead to one.

DeMaio tied the game with 8:07 left, and the Terps freshmen finished the deal. Off consecutive faceoff win by Justin Shockey, Jack Brennan scored from close range on the right side and Maltz again on the doorstep to finish the run. It was the last of career-high five goals for Maltz, whose brother, Dylan, scored 69 goals at Maryland from 2015-17.

“I’m just playing off of [Bernhardt, Wisnauskas and DeMaio],” Daniel Maltz said. “They draw all the attention and I just do the easy work.”

While Maryland’s offense was firing on all cylinders late, it wouldn’t have happened without the play of Shockey and sophomore goalkeeper Chris Brandau.

After losing eight of the first 10 at the dot to Kyle Gallagher, Shockey battled back to finish almost even at 17-for-35. The Terps won five of seven faceoffs in the fourth quarter, making an adjustment to get the wings involved instead of having Shockey try to win it clean.

“It wasn’t always clean, but there were a lot of hustle plays in the middle of the field,” Tillman said. “Justin Shockey, statistically, maybe not great, but I thought the most impactful game he’s played year. Just his effort, keeping the ball and getting it loose…As the game got going, we made plays and seized momentum.”

Brandau made a critical save on a two-man up opportunity for Penn with 9:56 left, which helped set the tone for the comeback. After allowing a goal  to Sean Lulley with 7:56 left, Brandau, the transfer from Georgetown, saved Penn’s last 10 shots on goal to finish with a career-high 19 saves.

It was a different story for the first 38 minutes, when Penn built a lead and stayed in control. Though Maryland jumped out to a 2-1 lead following a goal from  Sam Handley 42 seconds into the game, Penn quickly jumped back out in front. Lulley, Bartolo and Drew Robshaw each had goals over the next few minutes to put the Quakers back in front.

Bernhardt answered back with his first goal of the game to tie it, but Gallagher’s strong early performance gave Penn a possession advantage and allowed it to find holes in the Maryland defense. The Quakers led by as many as four goals in the first half, before leading 12-9 at halftime.

After losing several key players from last year, Penn had seven players score and eight record a point in its opener.  Lulley led the Quakers with four goals and two assists, and Dylan Gergar and Handley each had a hat trick and two assists. Adam Gardner, who led Penn with 56 goals in 2019, had two third-quarter goals to go along with two assists.

On defense, sophomore long-stick midfielder BJ Farrare led the way and Virginia transfer Patrick Burkinshaw got the start in goal. Burkinshaw made seven saves in the first half, but just two in the second.

As for Maryland, Tillman knows his team has plenty of playmakers. It’s just about putting it together so that improbable comebacks don’t become the norm.

“We just have to get back to work,” Tillman said. “Whatever it takes right now is what we need to do. Beating good teams like the ones we’re playing is not easy. The key is when things aren’t going well, we have to handle that better.”