Tiana Fujimoto has the ability to be a game-changer. So she changed the game.

The Hawaii junior forward gave her team its first Big West Conference win of the season with her game-winner in the 81st minute, a mind-bending shot in tight space between multiple UC Santa Barbara defenders on Thursday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

The 1-0 decision kept alive UH’s hope of finishing in the top four of nine teams in the conference. The Rainbow Wahine (6-6, 1-2) have five matches remaining, with Cal Poly (6-7, 2-1) and the nation’s leading scorer, Elise Krieghoff (15 goals), up next on Sunday.

Fujimoto, who is second behind Krieghoff in goals (seven) among Big West players, was plenty impressive in this one. She broke the scoreless tie when she weaved into the Gauchos’ penalty box from the left side. UCSB (7-6-1, 1-2) appeared caught off guard with the 5-foot Fujimoto by herself amid white and blue jerseys.

"The (closest) girl wasn’t pressuring me hard, and I thought ‘I’ll just take it on her’ and I cut it," Fujimoto said.

She juked between two defenders from 12 yards out and bent the ball at the far post, where it deflected in.

"She was going through a sea of people, just carving it up," UH coach Michele Nagamine said. "I mean, she might as well had a Ginsu samurai sword in her hand because, I mean, she was just dicing people left and right. … Who does that? Tiana Fujimoto, that’s who does that."

UH has depended on her all year. It is 5-0 when she scores, 1-6 when she doesn’t.

Fujimoto moved into a three-way tie for fifth on the UH career scorers list with 18, alongside Jennifer Starsiak and Kelli-Anne Chang.

In UH’s first game at WPSS in nearly a month, Nagamine had labeled it a "must-win situation." In a surprise move, goalkeeper Erica Young got the starting nod over Monk Berger, and rewarded her coach with the freshman’s first career shutout. It was only Young’s third appearance this season, and first in six matches. She had to notch three saves with a near-airtight effort by the Wahine defense.

"It’s somewhat overwhelming, but once you’re in the game it’s kind of like everything falls into place," Young said. "It was just a great feeling."