Claire Winter seemed awfully determined not to let her U.S. U14 Girls National Camp Blue team lose.

The midfielder out of Lamorinda United came up with two timely game-tying goals to allow her squad to salvage a 2-2 tie against the U16 So Cal Blues and depart the national camp with a good feeling.

A little bigger and more aggressive at times, the Blues pushed forward and put pressure on the U.S. Blue team.

The Blue squad did create its fair share of chances, but finishing was quite another story. On one sequence that kind of summed up the team’s luck in the scoring zone, Alexandria Carter hit the right post with a shot, and then watched her teammates miss on three point blank follow attempts - the last of which came from Morgan Stanton, who pulled her shot wide left.

Stanton played solidly, though. She’s small but shifty and can slide her way into seams and create good things for her teammates, which she did.

Lydia Simmons was the resident facilitator. She operated seamlessly in the middle of the field, and her patience stood out while she scanned the field and make sound decisions time and time again.
    
The clear cut playmaker on the field was striker Summer Green, a player who can get to virtually any spot on the field she wants to, at any given moment. Green had her share of shots on goal and made some tremendous 1v1 runs that had spectators buzzing.

On the defensive side, Taylor Nelson saw some time at left back, while Jenna Romano and Emily Morgan showed up as centerbacks.

Cynthia Pineda was inserted in the second half and brought a good combination of size and skill.

Still, it would’ve been all for naught had Winter not found the net twice. The first came midway through the second half, after the U.S. team had trailed for a good share of time. She found a spot on the left wing, took a pass and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.

The Blues went up 2-1 late in the match only to watch team Blue respond seconds later, Winter following up a shot by one of her teammates to tie it again.    

Winter’s teammates mobbed her. The group was basking in the moment and soaking up the final bit of an encouraging camp.

U.S. U14 GIRLS NATIONAL CAMP BLUE

GOALKEEPERS (2): Annabella Geist (Lake Oswego SC; Milwaukie, Ore.), Morgan Stearns (McLean; Burke, Va.)
DEFENDERS (6): Madeline Bauer (Slammers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), Donish Cole (Schulz Academy; West Palm Beach, Fla.), Emily Morgan (Lower Merion Heart; Chester Springs, Pa.), Taylor Nelson (Arsenal FC; Fort Collins, Colo.), Jenna Romano (Team Chicago; Naperville, Ill.), Kylie Schwarz (Minnesota Thunder; Plymouth, Minn.),
MIDFIELDERS (6): Alexandria Carter (Arkansas Rush; Conway, Ark.), Jaclyn DiMartino (Albertson Fury; Massapequa Park, N.Y.), Cynthia Pineda (Chicago Fire Jrs.; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Lydia Simmons (Seacoast United; Londonberry, N.H.), Morgan Stanton (Colorado Rush; Lakewood, Colo.), Claire Winter (Lamorinda United; Lafayette, Calif.)
FORWARDS (4): Elizabeth Bartels (Toro Booya; Omaha, Neb.), Elizabeth Boon (Columbia Timbers Premier SC; Washougal, Wash.), Summer Green (Michigan Hawks; Milford, Mich.), Tierra Reynos (Leahi; Mililani, Hawaii)