Submitted photo The Philibin brothers are some of the top scorers on a surging Cardinal Mooney boys soccer team. From left, Christopher (freshman), Andrew (senior) and Brian (junior) have led the Cardinals to the team’s first winning season since 2014.

YOUNGSTOWN — Andrew Philibin dribbles down near midfield with the soccer ball.

The Cardinal Mooney senior sees one sibling on one side, his brother Brian, a junior.

On the other side is his brother, Christopher, a freshman, as all three, along with their teammates, rush at the opposition toward a potential goal.

The three Philibins are instrumental in the Cardinals boys soccer team’s success, notching their first winning season since 2014.

Cardinal Mooney is 9-6-1 and the fourth seed in the Division III Niles District. The Cardinals host fifth-seeded Columbiana in a sectional bracket final Saturday at 1 p.m., at Hubbard High School. Mooney is 6-0-1 in its last seven games.

Brian has 11 goals and eight assists, while Andrew had eight goals and three assists — the top two on the team. Christopher is fifth on the team with five goals and three assists.

Senior Nick Jadue has six goals and assists, while junior Justin Durkin has four goals and seven assists to take up the third and fourth spots.

All three Philibins have played their fair share of travel soccer and are very in tune with the game. They are constantly honing their skills, working with one another.

“We have good chemistry with each other,” Andrew said. “Obviously, we’ve been living with each other forever. We know each other. We know what we’re thinking.

“The scoring, it comes naturally. We have other kids on the team who help us a lot. It just happens.”

Challenges. They have some, as all siblings do.

“When we argue, we know it’s for the betterment of the team,” Christopher said. “If we push through, most likely we’ll win the game. That’s the most important goal as a team.”

Brian said they always try to get the best out of one another, even though they do argue. They do hold themselves accountable.

“At times, in the moment, it’s kind of challenging,” Brian said. “At the end of the day, I think we all know that we’re trying to get the best out of each other. At the end of the day, we want the best for the team.”

Brian is the kicker for the Mooney football team. Challenges he experiences in one venue never leak into the other. The focus is the sport at hand.

“Keep a level head and just forget about it,” Brian said. “Next day is a new day and just let it leave your mind.”

Coach Matt Britton said the other two brothers follow what Andrew says. They understand what’s important for the team, leaving sibling rivalries out of the field of play — playing for each other and the team.

Watching all three in motion, it’s something to behold.

“It’s almost like the telepathic movement off of each other,” Britton said. “It’s something you can’t teach, you can’t coach. It’s ingrained in them.”