The Boston University men’s soccer team will make the eight-hour trip to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County this weekend for what is probably the biggest game this season for the Terriers (8-5-3, 3-0-3 America East).

With the hopes of clinching a conference tournament bid, BU will look to defend its seven-game unbeaten streak when it goes toe-to-toe with a Retriever offense that ranks first in the conference in points (5.80), goals (1.93) and assists (1.93) per game. On top of that, the Retrievers (9-1-5, 4-0-3 AE) boast a defensive front that has only allowed 13 goals this season for a .80 goals against average, good for second in the league.

BU coach Neil Roberts said his team is aware of what it is up against, and knows that a win at UMBC could really propel them down the final stretch of the season.

‘It’s a big game. The guys know what’s on the line,’ Roberts said. ‘We still control our own destiny so we if we can win our next three games, we win the conference. That’s what we’re going to be shooting for.’

While the Retrievers’ offensive numbers may be intimidating, the Terriers have some firepower of their own. In three major statistical categories (points, goals and assists per game), BU ranks second in the league, right behind the high-powered UMBC attack. And in terms of defense, the Terriers are third in the conference with five shutouts.

As junior co-captain Erik Evjen explained, BU also has something to prove against the conference newcomers.

‘We’re just hungry to show that we’re better than we showed [Wednesday],’ Evjen said, referring to the team’s 3-3 tie with the University of Maine. ‘We have had a couple games now that haven’t really been that good. We need to win again.’

For many teams, though, winning against the Retrievers has proven to be a difficult task. UMBC is unbeaten in its last eight games, with wins in its last four. Midfielder Derek McElligott has been leading the charge with his league-leading 14 goals and two points per game. Nationally, the junior ranks in the top-10 in both categories.

Defending America East Player of the Week Marcus Gross (three goals in the past three games) and senior midfielder Michael Joseph, with his team-leading seven assists, have also gotten into the act for UMBC.

Still, Roberts said stopping these players, along with the rest of the UMBC roster, is not an impossible task.

‘When we play well defensively, we’re in the ballgame,’ Roberts said. ‘We just have to cut [mistakes] out and play a little safer back there. I think everybody has to be on their game.’

The battle begins Saturday at the UMBC Soccer Stadium at 1 p.m.