It was just a scrimmage, yes, but it certainly felt like a little more.

In the final showing of the weeklong camp for the U17 and U18 Women’s Youth National camp in Carson, Calif., both teams hooked up for an exciting exhibition.

It ended fittingly in a 1-1 tie after the 18s battled back from an early deficit. Striker Rachel Nuzzolese earned a penalty kick in the last few minutes and sent a shot top left to beat goalie Abby Smith and even the match.

“They came out hard, but we were able to pick it up and get the goal to tie it,” Nuzzolese said. “We played well. We’ve been practicing hard together, we’re bonding, and I think it showed on the field.”
   
Bonding was perhaps a little more difficult for the 18s, who are a mix of players not entirely familiar with one another. The 17s, on the other hand, were just together last month and are building toward next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

It was evident early as the 17s worked good combinations. Midfielder Caprice Dydasco led the first half charge keeping the defense off balance. Kaili Torres was notable in her effort and energy and played fearlessly.

The 18s won most of the possessions but couldn’t put much together until the second half. A lineup that featured the explosive Hayley Brock, Nuzzolese, Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick and Kathryn Bennett had better success down the stretch.

Mollie Pathman, of Triangle FC in Durham, North Carolina, had a fantastic showing. She’s a player with good strength and deceiving quickness, and she left defenders in her dust with a few shifty moves.

Pathman had some good 1v1 battles with defender Sarah Molina who did her best to mark her. But the entire defensive unit of the 17s - including Cari Roccaro, Whitney Church, and Olivia Brannon -  was on its heels during the second half.

Keeper Smith was ideal in her leadership and direction as she instructed the unit in front of her, and her energy epitomized the 17s' team, which was clearly motivated to play well against their older counterparts.

“We knew it would be a tough battle,” said 18s coach Dave Chesler. “There’s a lot of motivation when you’re playing kids older than you; they closed down really well and they have a really good group of players.”

Both groups had to be happy with the performance and the way they completed a challenging week.

“Relative to the week we were definitely starting to come together in terms of our defending,” Chesler said. “At the end of the week is when it’s starting to happen and you wish it could carry over to a second week. You send them away and hopefully they come back and pick up where we left off. The girls are all new to each other but definitely we gelled in our ability to pressure an opponent and play out. The more difficult part for us was combining and playing with flow. That will come with time because of the new players in the pool.

“I’m very pleased with the week overall.”

 

U.S. U18 WNT Training Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Vittoria Arnold (Dallas Texans; Stafford, Va.), Anna Sieloff (Vardar; Troy, Mich.), Sarah Voigt (Ponte Vedra SC; Middleburg, Fla.)

DEFENDERS (8): Torri Allen (Mclean; Stafford, Va.), Elizabeth Eddy (So Cal Blues; Costa Mesa, Calif., Megan Oyster (Windy City Pride; Naperville, Ill.), Mollie Pathman (Triangle FC; Durham, N.C.), Rachel Quon (Eclipse Select; Lake Forrest, Ill.), Kendall Romine (So Cal Blues; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Courtney Smith (Dallas Texans; Houston, Texas), Carrie Whigham (Sereno SC; Phoenix, Ariz.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kathryn Bennett (Crossfire; Clyde Hill, Wash.), Alex Crown (Space Coast United; Orlando, Fla.), Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick (San Ramon; Pleasanton, Calif.), Julia Roberts (Mclean; Frederick, Md.), Julia Sandridge (TCSYA Lady Twins; Winston-Salem, N.C.), Annie Steinlage (Michigan Hawks; Grand Haven, Mich.), Rebecca Twining (Challenge SC; Houston, Texas)

FORWARDS (6): Hayley Brock (FC Stars of Mass; Acton, Mass.), Michelle Cruz (Slammers; Thousand Oaks, Calif.); Kylie Facinelli (So Cal Blues; Del Mar, Calif.), Samantha Johnson (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Natalia Ledezma (Slammers; La Mirada, Calif.), Rachel Nuzzolese (Rockville Centre; Melville, N.Y.)

U.S. U17 WNT Training Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bryane Heaberlin (Clearwater Chargers; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Molly Poletto (Storm-Copa; Englewood, Colo.), Abby Smith (Dallas Texans 94' Red; Dallas, Texas.)

DEFENDERS (5): Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jags; Troy, Mich.), Whitney Church (Loudoun '91 Real; Ashburn, Va.); Abby Dahlkemper (MVLA Avalanche; Menlo Park, Calif.); Sarah Molina (Ohio Premier; Rocky River, Ohio); Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.Y.)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Morgan Andrews (FC Stars of Massachusetts; Milford, N.H.), Morgan Brian (Ponte Verda Storm; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Kaysie Clark (KC Select Scream; Liberty, Mo.), Alexandra Doll (Bethesda SC Dragons; Bethesda, Md.), Caprice Dydasco (HSC Bulls; Honolulu, Hawaii), Isabel Farrell (Crossfire; Bellevue, Wash.), Jessica Lee (Arsenal Fury; Tenafly, N.J.), Kylie McCarthy (San Diego Surf; Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) Katie Speidel (Real So Cal G-U16; Oak Park, Calif.), Kaili Torres (PVSA; Orange Park, Fla.), Clarissa Wedemeyer (Dallas Texans; Colleyville, Texas)

FORWARDS (5): Alesha Blair (De Anza Force '92 Blue; Pleasanton, Calif.), Shea Groom (KCFC Alliance Intensity; Liberty, Mo.), Cate Parchinski (Pride Predators '93; Colorado Springs, Co.), Sydney Payne (IMG Soccer Academy U-18; Lutz, Fla.), Courtney Proctor (Santa Clarita United Blazers; Santa Clarita, Calif.)