The Penn Quakers kicked off their 2020 DI Lacrosse season with a trip to College Park to face the #4 Maryland Terrapins (3-0) on a blustery Saturday.
A score fest turned in a 13 goal first quarter with Sam Handley (3g,2a) putting the Quakers on the board with just :42 played.
Maryland fired back to take a 2-1 lead fueled by Logan Wisnauskas setting up Bubba Fairman (1g) and, on a fast break, Matt Rabil (1g) and with three minutes played, it was already three goals in the nets.
Sean Lulley (4g,2a), Mitch Bartolo (1g) followed by Lulley setting the table for Drew Robshaw (1g) who hit rope just 1:37 apart to give the visitors momentum and a 4-2 edge.
It took the Terrapins all of :44 to get it to 4-3 courtesy of Jared Bernhardt (4g,2a).
Dylan Gerger (3g,2a) and Lully countered to push it to 6-3.
The squads would take turns notching goals started by Anthony DeMaio (3g,1a) for the home team.
Handley responded :37 later to take it the frantic final minute with Bernhardt at :36 and Lulley completed his first-quarter hat trick with just 1 second to play.
End of one with Penn holding a three-goal lead at 8-5.
The second stanza started slow but at 10:15, Gerger pushed it to a four-goal lead.
Unfazed, it took a minute for Bernhardt to counter and thirty-five more seconds for Kyle Long (1g) to record his first collegiate goal to get it 9-7.
Jack Schultz (1g) and Handley scored :38 apart to the Quakers back to a four-goal edge.
Once again, Maryland took the hit and responded courtesy of Bernhardt and a man-up score from Daniel Maltz (5g)
Another last-minute Penn goal, this one from Gerger with :40 left closed the half with Penn in control, 12-9.
Penn kept the run going when Adam Goldner (2g,2a) hit a pair to keep his goal-scoring streak alive at 26 games.
Lulley added another and Penn was sitting on a 15-9 game and seemed to be headed to ending their 15 game career losing streak against the Terps.
Maryland is highly ranked for a reason and slammed the door on Penn.
After a near 12 minute scoreless run, Maryland lit things up with an eight-goal run.
Wisnauskas (1g,3a) and the suddenly “locked-in” Daniel Maltz closed the third with Maryland sensing a comeback, trailing 15-11.
The bottom dropped out on the Quakers who went scoreless for the final quarter and got torched by six more goals.
Anthony DeMaio, followed by two man-up goals from Maltz, another DeMaio tally, Jack Brennan (1g,1) and, the icing on the cake from Maltz to pull off an improbable comeback.
Dis and Dat: Chris Brandau was outstanding in the Maryland nets. 19 saves for the game with 15 coming in the crucial second half.
Penn Fogo, Kyle Gallagher went 18 of 35 with 10 loose balls.
Penn had the shot advantage, 48-40 while Maryland nabbed 34 loose balls to the Quakers 32.
The man up saw Penn 0-3 while the Terps were a perfect, 3-0.

Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.