The buzz at U.S. headquarters in Sunshine, Florida, was the international flavor making its way in for a few high quality matches.

The U17 group, which occupied the facilities from Aug. 14-21 capped their camp with two friendlies against the U18 Chinese National Team. The Americans probably should have captured both matches but settled for a 1-0 victory Aug. 18 and a 2-2 draw Aug. 20.

Midfielder Kaili Torres notched the winner in the opening match and Dickey described the Aug. 20 matchup as one that got away – and for good reason.

The U.S. squad established a 2-0 lead on scores from Kaysie Clark and Morgan Brian before allowing two second-half goals. The equalizer came in stoppage time on a free kick that even the great Abby Smith didn’t have a chance on.

“We definitely should have won,” Dickey said. “We had a foul in the stoppage time that decided it, but it was a great opportunity for us to play against a team the girls could end up seeing in the U20 cycle.”

The U15s received a similar opportunity of global challenge, with less successful results.

The Americans fell 1-0 to the U17 South Korean National Team before taking a 2-0 defeat to the U17 Nigerian squad.

What Dickey’s group lost in match outcome, it most certainly gained in lasting lessons. The international teams brought a new brand of soccer that challenged the national team in new ways and forced them evolve.

“It’s about being more savvy,” Dickey said. “Sometimes it’s about knowing how to take away individual players  - (the international teams) certainly showed some individual stuff our players could not pull off and don’t see much of at home.”

In the match against Nigeria, the U.S. team was pushed tactically.

“Nigeria was really squeezing us and pulling us offside,” Dickey said. “We had a lot of chances but we didn’t know how to adjust, and didn’t time the pass at the right time so we lost those chances.”   

In defense of the U15 team, it was a group that featured seven new faces. Tune in tomorrow for Part Two where we’ll detail the new national team additions, and how they fared individually.

U.S. U17 Women’s National Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bryane Heaberlin (Clearwater Chargers; St. Petersburgh, Fla.), McKenzie Karas (Premier ’95 Black; Las Vegas, Nev.), Abby Smith (Dallas Texans; Dallas, Texas)
DEFENDERS (7): Stephanie Amack (Mustang Blast; Pleasanton, Calif.), Danielle Colaprico (PDA; Freehold, N.J.), Abby Dahlkemper (MVLA Avalanche; Menlo Park, Calif.), Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Katie Naughton (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.Y.), Maya Theuer (San Diego Surf; Carlsbad, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra Storm; St. Simons Island, Ga), Kaysie Clark (KC Select Scream; Liberty, Mo.), Alex Doll (Bethesda SC; Bethesda, Md), Ashley Meier (Cleveland Whitecaps; Strongsville, Ohio), Reilly Parker (Mustang Blast; Danville, Calif.), Ashley Spivey (Baltimore Bays; Baltimore, Md.), Kaili Torres (Ponte Vedra Storm; Orange Park, Fla.), Haley Washburn (San Juan SC; Folsom, Calif.), Danielle Weatherholt (So Cal Blues; Capistrano Beach, Calif.)
FORWARDS (5): Alesha Blair (De Anza Force; Pleasanton, Calif.), Jamia Fields (Real So Cal; Alta Loma, Calif.), Lindsey Horan (Colorado Rush; Golden, Colo.), Kodi Lavrusky (Legends FC; Yucaipa, Calif.), Kristen McNabb (PDA; Montville, N.J.)

U.S. U15 Women’s National Camp Roster  
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mikaela Berger (West Coast FC; Mission Viejo, Calif.), Jane Campbell (Concorde Fire; Kennesaw, Ga.), Carissa Miller (Sereno DC; Cave Creek, Ariz.)
DEFENDERS (5): Morgan Andrews (FC Stars of Mass.; Milford, N.H.), Maddie Bauer (Slammers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.); Lauren Kaskie (Neusport FC; Las Vegas, Nev.), Micaela Powers (Ohio Galaxies; Beavercreek, Ohio), Jenna Romano (Team Chicago; Naperville, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Joanna Boyles (Raleigh, N.C; CASL Spartan Elite), Caroline Chagares (PDA; Wyckoff, N.J.), Kaitlyn Clark (KC Select; Liberty, Mo.), Miranda Freeman (Renegades SC; Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) Summer Green (Michigan Hawks; Milford, Mich.); Gabrielle Miranda (Colorado Rush; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Lydia Simmons (FC Stars of Mass; Londonberry, N.H.), Andi Sullivan (Bethesda SC; Lorton, Va.), Madison Tiernan (PDA; Vorhees, N.J.)
FORWARDS (7): Elizabeth Boon (Columbia Timbers; Washougal, Wash.), Frannie Crouse (Beadling SC; Jeanette, Pa.), Vanessa Kovar (VSA Heat; Manassas, Va.), Katherine Mohr (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Amber Munerlyn (So Cal Blues; Corona, Calif.), Rebecca Schoales (Crossfire Premier; Port Orchard, Wash.), Zoe Swift (NSA Premier; Naperville, Ill.)