The U17 Women’s National Camp took another step forward Tuesday night in its second camp gathering of the year.

The US group took on Ajax, of Missouri, in the first of two scrimmages played during the weeklong camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Against an older opponent, the US team dominated the action, controlling much of the match’s possession with its first-half unit led by relentless attacker Kylie McCarthy (San Diego Surf), who was making her first appearance this year with the team.

By the time the second group of US players got into the action for the second half, they had worn down Ajax and figured out how they wanted to attack.

“The second group took in well what the weaknesses and strengths were and it made a difference in the game,” said midfielder Caprice Dydasco, after watching her teammates break through for a goal halfway into the second half. “It was good to play someone new (rather than each other) because everyone here knows each other. It was also good to play older girls who knew what they were going to do early with the ball – the speed of play was fast.”

The national team defense did well to adjust led by Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jags), Miranda Cornejo (San Diego Surf), Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf) and Rachel Price (Space Coast) who all pressured and intercepted their share of balls.

Goalkeeper Abby Smith controlled things in the box, sending away a few Ajax shots including a save where she laid out completely to her right in order to secure the ball.  

Dydasco, a dangerous outside midfielder with strong one-on-one skills from the Honolulu Bulls, believes that this group is primed for international competition. Dydasco took part in the previous national team gathering which included U15 players last month in Sunrise, Florida.

She is pleased with how the team is coming together.

“This team right now is the best group from the camps. Every girl that’s here is someone who really stood out from the last camp,” Dydasco said. “We’re doing very well and getting ready for the World Cup. I think we’ve made good developments in the last couple days and we work well as a team. We have the potential to get better and maybe win the world cup.”