After upsetting 19th-ranked American University on Sunday, the Boston University field hockey team will have not have any time to celebrate as it heads to Storrs, Conn. to take on the 11th-ranked University of Connecticut this afternoon.

With five of the final six regular season games against current top-20 teams, the Terriers (8-6, 2-2 America East) will have to tackle a rather formidable schedule before hitting the tournament portion of the season.

‘It’s definitely a very challenging schedule,’ said BU coach Sally Starr. ‘But it’s something that we are ready as a team to take on. We have more than ample preparation this far into the season. We’ve had high points and low points, and I think we learned something from the low points.’

Starr also pointed out that, given a choice between wrapping up the season with a string of cupcake opponents or finishing out against top-notch teams, she would rather have her team square off against high-caliber competition.

‘If we’re going to achieve our goals, we need to play a strong schedule,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t do us any good to play easy teams and come up against UNH, Northeastern or Maine. Our non-conference games will really help us be better come tournament time.’

Against the Huskies, Starr will get her wish. Connecticut (11-4) is riding a three-game winning streak, including road victories against No. 8 Princeton University and No. 12 Northeastern University.

However, the Huskies have scored more than five goals only once in the last five games, a fact that might bode well for a suddenly red-hot Terrier offense.

Led by the play of senior forward Celeste Hubbard, the reigning America East Player of the Week, the Terriers beat a highly ranked American defense for four goals. Combined with a 4-0 victory over the University of Vermont on Oct. 15, the Terriers managed to score more than two goals in consecutive contests for the first time this season.

According to Starr, BU is riding high on the current offensive outburst.

‘Our practices have been excellent. The team has energy and enthusiasm. In practice, the kids were psyched to be there,’ she said. ‘We’re not feeling any lull. If anything, we are re-energized excited about what’s ahead of us.’

The only ominous factor for the Terriers is the fact that four of these final five games will be on the road, where BU has struggled thus far this season, going 3-4 compared to a 5-2 record within the friendly confines of Jack Barry Field, the team’s home turf.

But Starr dismissed any such notion.

‘[BU’s road struggles] are a coincidence,’ Starr said. ‘We’ve had some success on the road and we are a veteran team. Connecticut is only an hour and a half away. It’s not an overnight trip. There are no hotel rooms or plane rides or anything like that. Northeastern and Harvard are just 5 minutes away in a van. Those are like home games.’

Perhaps the best news for the Terriers is that Hubbard, who suffered a hand injury against American and was forced to leave the game, has been cleared to play against Connecticut after an x-ray came back negative.

The Terriers will still be hampered by injuries as they travel to Storrs, with junior forward Adrienne Scibilia sidelined due to a severe ankle sprain, which she tweaked when she stepped on a ball in the 4-0 victory over Vermont.

Even after missing the American contest and some of the Vermont game, Scibilia is still tied for third overall with four goals this season.

The Connecticut game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.