Manlius Pebble Hill girls soccer’s ‘big sister club’ downs Faith Heritage in statement matchup

This season was always different for Manlius Pebble Hill girls soccer. The obvious change was in the win total. Six victories in seven games was a drastic increase for a program that had won six combined matches in the past four seasons. But the vibes around this team felt different, too. At least, that’s what MPH coach Kate Blanford noticed with her team’s improved team chemistry heading into the season. All chemistry has to be tested at some point, so when the Trojans faced their toughest test yet — a one-loss Faith Heritage team on Wednesday — they got their clearest indication of how far they’d come. MPH picked up a marquee victory with a 2-1 takedown of the Saints in a duel for the top of their division. Blanford said that hard-fought matchups like this one “solidify the girls’ bond.” “We have the mindset (that) competitive games are what feels good,” Blanford said. “That’s what makes us a better team. So, it’s just like going into battle. The harder the games, the more connected we get.” The Trojans’ six-game winning streak has been fueled by their girls from all grades meshing into one cohesive unit. The MPH attack is led by a combination of sophomores and seniors, while a handful of eighth-graders also play key roles. It’s for this reason that Blanford dubbed this team to be like “a big sister club.” And that was only backed up in Wednesday’s win.

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