CARSON, Calif. - Lindsay Mills scored her first career goal in the 85th minute Friday, lifting the UC San Diego women's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 road victory against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"It was important to win a big game on the road," UCSD head coach Brian McManus said. "We should've won some of our earlier road games but couldn't finish them off. When the home team scores a goal to tie it with 15 minutes to go, it takes a lot to come back to win it. We showed some character tonight. That's what it takes on the road and we finally got it."

The Tritons improve to 7-2-2 overall and 5-2-2 within the California Collegiate Athletic Association, including a current three-match winning streak. The host CSUDH squad falls to 7-3-1 overall and 5-3-1 in league play. UCSD overtakes the Toros for second place in the conference's South Division and the Tritons will take on the first place squad, Cal State L.A., on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Despite being outshot 10-4 Friday night, the UCSD offense exhibited efficiency in its chances. The two squads entered halftime at 0-0 but Tritons' junior forward Sarah McTigue broke the scoreless affair with a goal in the 54th minute. A cross from Anne Wethe landed at the feet of Shelby Wong, who sent a pass to McTigue inside the box on the right side. McTigue sent a shot past CSUDH goalkeeper Alyssa Congdon for her team-high fifth goal of 2010.

Another tremendous scoring threat, Toros' junior forward Jessica Murphy, made her presence felt on Friday night. Murphy evened the score 1-1 at the 71:06 mark, as she dribbled to her left at the top of the box and then beat UCSD netminder Kristin Armstrong to the top left corner of the net.

Both squads went to their bench frequently in the second half of Friday's hard-fought match and Tritons' head coach Brian McManus called on Mills to enter the match in the 78th minute. The reserve from Valencia, Calif., delivered in the clutch, sending in a score at the 84:15 mark. A cross from Alexa Enlow bounced off Congdon and Mills got the rebound chance, tapping the ball with her left foot inside the right post. It marked Mills' first career goal and sixth shot of her career.

"I was in tears after scoring the goal," Mills said. "My teammates had to tell me to pull it together because there were still five minutes to play."

Armstrong contributed a solid performance in net for the Tritons Friday, as she collected four saves. The opposing keeper, Congdon, ended the night with one stop.

Following Sunday's clash with CSULA, UCSD will return home to host Chico State on Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m.