History was made Thursday night on the pitch at Vista Ridge High School, but not for the home team.

Fountain-Fort Carson spoiled the Wolves senior night with a 3-2 win over the to snap a seven-game losing streak. Fountain-Fort Carson last beat Vista Ridge in 2011 and fell to the Wolves 3-2 in their last meeting in 2024. 

After starting the year 0-2-1 going three games without a goal, Fountain-Fort Carson is now 5-3-2 after its win on Thursday and has scored in the past six matches. 

First-year Trojan coach Carlos Quintero says this year has been a “slow process” with a new coach and a young team with seven freshmen on varsity. But that this was the first game he has seen unity among his players. 

“It was a big match, not just for me but for the whole program,” Quintero said. “We’ve been touching on unity and teamwork amongst ourselves, and this is the first game that. As a team, we have acknowledged the importance of working together and lifting each other up, and being positive in those moments of adversity and challenges.”

Unity as a program, including players, parents, and coaches, has been one of the team’s successes this season. 

“Change is hard for a lot of people, but they have bought in,” Quintero said. “Instead of using negative language, we have been focusing on the positive, not just from me but amongst themselves.”

Fountain-Fort Carson’s Johandry Gonzalez scored the first goal of the match in the 13th minute and the Wolves responded with a goal off a free kick in the 27th.  

Tied at 1-1, sophomore Suami Mbaya found the back of the net in the 59th minute to give the Trojans a 2-1 advantage. Three minutes later, Noah Martinez, a junior, scored again to put the Trojans up by 3-1. 

“This team has gone through so much, it’s been so long, we needed to win this game,” junior Brandon Vargas said. “It’s an incredible feeling. I knew we could do it. We just needed to have the courage. This team is built on love and dedication to playing the sport.”

Vista Ridge senior Jordan Mora scored another goal on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute. But the Wolves didn’t score again and lost on their home turf. 

When the whistle sounded to signal the Trojans’ historic win, the team ran on the field in celebration and screamed in excitement for several minutes. 

While the Trojans recognized the stakes of their contest, they treated the match like any other. 

“Every team we play against, our mindset is to beat them,” Quintero said. “Whether they are a good team or a bad team, we go in with the mentality of winning. This is the first game they have seen winning together, and against team that historically has beaten us, so it has been a big win for us.”

Fountain-Fort Carson’s victory will provide a boost of momentum going forward. It’s been a rebuilding process, but they are finally finding their groove. 

“This is going to help us up tremendously,” junior Devin Koch said. “This is exactly what we needed to keep our heads up high and show we can win games even if they feel difficult.

“We just didn’t give up. Today we did a good job at keeping our heads up, and I’m proud of every single player. It means the world to be with them now; this is my family. I love every single one equally, I’m just glad to be here, in this moment.”