In the final match of the calendar year for the Trinity boys’ soccer team, the fireworks came early for the Knights as junior Landon Moberg scored the game winner in the match’s final minutes for a 2-1 victory over the Vasquez Mustangs.
“My emotions are really high. We’re coming off two draws for the last two games, which we were both leading, in the game today. We gave up a soft goal after we started leading. So, I’m over the hill,” Trinity head coach Syian Wignal Sr. said.
In the first half, the Knights (2-1-3, 2-0-2) and the Mustangs (6-2, 2-1) were tied one apiece following a goal by Trinity’s Max Nien that came from outside the box, Vasquez having equalized shortly thereafter.
And with three minutes left in the match, Moberg received the ball off a long pass from the midfield and was one-on-one with the Vasquez goalkeeper and shot the ball right past him for the score.
Wignal said that the goal was in the making for Moberg as he told his player to just stay composed in the intense game as the opportunity will come.
“His composure was what gave him the opportunity. Landon always has composure, but he’s actually one of the guys we put in the back because of his composure,” he said. “Today we decided to mix it up a little, let [Vasquez] not understand what was going on, and it was perfect. It was a perfect time and a good sub.”
For the Knights, the last-minute goal comes as a relief for the team as throughout the first half the team missed would-be goals off corner shots and headers that either were saved or went past the net.
After the match, Wignal spoke on the program’s growth over the year and stated that matches like the win over Vasquez are proof the team is growing day-by-day.
“It’s amazing to see the guys putting it together,” he said. “It’s been a while. It’s been five years, and we’re finally starting to look like a team and continue to grow and develop.”
But Wignal was also sure to credit the back line. They kept the game tied as the Mustangs had a few shots of their own including a shot by a Vasquez forward that dribbled past the goalkeeper and had a free shot to the net that was saved by a header from Jacobo Paz.
“Jacobo came out of nowhere to clear that ball off the header, and he told me never wanted to be a goalkeeper,” he said jokingly. “I don’t believe him though, but I liked that in that moment he was a goalkeeper.”
With the win, the Knights remain undefeated in Heritage League play and end 2025 with a victory and momentum that Wignal believes the team can capitalize on in the new year.
“I’m grateful that we have a win. We’re going to be working on a lot of shooting this break,” he said. “So, we’re going to come back next year, come back in 2026, ready to go. Just giving God praise for this and just love the fact that we’re coming together at the right time.”
The Knights play again on Jan. 6 at home against the Palmdale Aerospace Academy.
Photos below from Trinity’s win over Vasquez:
