Southern Wayne senior Ivan Alvarado, middle, celebrates with his teammates after a 2-0 victory over Wilson Fike on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

Southern Wayne senior Ivan Alvarado, middle, celebrates with his teammates after a 2-0 victory over Wilson Fike on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Southern Wayne’s Ivan Alvarado, left, and teammate Richard Gabriel (19) knock the ball away from Fike’s Victor Vasquez during second-half play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Southern Wayne’s Ivan Alvarado, left, and teammate Richard Gabriel (19) knock the ball away from Fike’s Victor Vasquez during second-half play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Southern Wayne head coach Luis Ramirez (dark grey sweatshirt) and assistant coach Daniel Benitez (far left) stand with the team’s nine seniors before kickoff against Wilson Fike on Monday evening. The seniors, in no particular order, are Ivan Alvarado, Abraham Capistran, Riquelmer Gomes, Brian Hernandez, Anthony Jimenez, Cole Lane, Denilson Sanchez, Alex Trejo and Maxmiliano Vera. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Southern Wayne head coach Luis Ramirez (dark grey sweatshirt) and assistant coach Daniel Benitez (far left) stand with the team’s nine seniors before kickoff against Wilson Fike on Monday evening. The seniors, in no particular order, are Ivan Alvarado, Abraham Capistran, Riquelmer Gomes, Brian Hernandez, Anthony Jimenez, Cole Lane, Denilson Sanchez, Alex Trejo and Maxmiliano Vera. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

DUDLEY — It just might be the greatest redemption story forever told for years to come.

The narrative belongs to Alex Trejo.

Feeling the sting of giving up an “own” goal in a heart-breaking road loss to Wilson Fike just 26 days ago, the Southern Wayne senior erased that excruciating moment Monday evening.

He scored in the 66th minute and assisted on a second goal five minutes later, which lifted the Saints past Fike, 2-0, on the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex pitch.

“Ivan [Alvarado] gave me the ball,” Trejo said. “I just ran straight with it until I got a really tight angle and I fought it. If I stopped, I felt like I wasn’t going to do much, so I just tried to take my shot.

“It went in [and] I felt good.”

The Saints halted a haunting 0-8-1 skid since the loss to the Golden Demons on Oct. 2.

“We broke the streak,” grinned Trejo.

Trejo played most of the season at center back.

He and SW head coach Luis Ramirez discussed moving him to striker due to his height, agility and work rate. Trejo admitted he needed quality minutes to find his groove.

It certainly paid off.

Barely five minutes after he delivered the game-deciding goal, he assisted Alvarado. It was Alvarado’s sixth goal of the season.

“He [Alvarado] didn’t play his freshman year and came in as a sophomore all shy and nervous,” Ramirez said. “He kind of took a back seat. And now when it was time for him to flourish, he’s really stepped up.

“He’s not one of the most-vocal guys on the team, but the way he leads and convinces guys to step up, he’s done some good stuff this season.”

The Quad County 3A rivals played a back-and-forth affair that resulted in a scoreless draw after the opening 40 minutes. Neither team could finish inside the 18-yard box.

SW keeper Jefferson Morales and Fike net-minder James Nestor each logged five saves. Morales also benefited from a defensive clear on a dangerous ball that got loose inside the 6-yard box.

The Golden Demons (10-11-1 overall, 6-7-0 QCC) continued to apply pressure throughout the second half. Morales remained steadfast between the pipes and filed a clean sheet (shutout) with 12 saves.

Not too shabby for a back-up goalie who had to step into a starting role just days before regular-season play began.

“He managed to step, gave us some saves,” Ramirez said. “Everybody from the goal keeper to the striker, they all knew a role and knew exactly how they had to play. Luckily, everybody played that role.”

Trejo and Alvarado played their final home game along with seven other seniors — Abraham Capistran, Riquelmer Gomes, Brian Hernandez, Anthony Jimenez, Cole Lane, Denilson Sanchez and Maximiliano Vera.

Before kickoff, Ramirez told the group to enjoy the night.

“Realistically, we’re out of the playoff picture, so I told the boys we don’t have a playoff scene to work for now,” said Ramirez, whose team climbed to 5-14-1 overall and 3-8-1 in league matters this season. “It’s senior night. Your parents have come out to support you. Fight for your teammates … you’ve worked hard all season.

“We knew Fike was a strong team, but we also knew against any team we could play well. We’ve just been unlucky this season, but I knew we could turn things around at least for senior night.”

Trejo and Alvarado made sure it happened.

You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.