CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Four missed field goals, including one on the last play that would have won the game. A solid defensive effort — until it needed it most. Another tough-to-take loss for resilient Penn State.

The Nittany Lions (0-2) probably don’t need any more rallying points, but got another one on Saturday in sophomore placekicker Sam Ficken, whose day could hardly have gone more poorly.

Ficken made only one of five field goal attempts, including one miss from 20 yards and another from 42 on the final play of the game, depriving the Nittany Lions of a stirring victory at Virginia.

He also had one of two extra-point kicks blocked, the difference in their 17-16 loss.

When it was over, the school declined to make Ficken available, and teammates refused to let him take the blame.

“This certainly isn’t on him. It’s on all of us as a team,” junior guard John Urschel said he told Ficken. “He was obviously down on himself. He’s a good football player. He’s a team player. He’s a great team guy, so he’s obviously going to feel bad and try to take responsibility, but it’s not on him at all.

“We lost this as a team today.”

Indeed. One week after its defense was maligned for allowing Ohio to convert 11 of 12 third downs in its 24-14 comeback victory, Penn State stymied Virginia until the Cavaliers’ winning drive. Quarterback Michael Rocco was 6 for 6 for 97 yards on the 86-yard march.