CARSON, California - More meetings.

That’s what U.S. Soccer Director of Women’s Development Jill Ellis wanted for her U14s, and it’s the reason the group has gathered this week for the first of three trainings this year – as opposed to one large identification camp in years past.

Ellis’ desire for more quality time with her pupils seems to already be paying off. Whereas previous U14 camps appeared more orientation than valuable training, Wednesday’s action showed off a group of young players competing with conviction.

The 48 standouts were broken into four sides for a pair of intrascrimmage games, and the results were undeniably positive.

“In both games we saw players trying to play our style tactically,” Ellis said. “We want to implement that as early as we can – playing out of the back, building in the midfield – and I definitely saw that intent today. The execution sometimes breaks down but it’s the willingness that makes me pleased with the performance.”

Madison Schultz, a strong striker from Washington who played with great pace, had to be one of the more pleasing performers. Schulzt played on a dark blue squad that included an attacking core of Sunny Dunphy, Kaitlyn Bryan, Nicole Whitley and Jordan Harr.

Schultz was clearly the most dangerous of the bunch, and her teammates sought her out as she scored two goals in a scrimmage that ended in a 2-2 tie.

On the light blue side, right back Zoe Morse of Michigan was one of the more intriguing players. She’s tall, poised and is left-footed – something Ellis indicated the U.S. coaches would be seeking out for this age group. Morse competed well in the air and always seemed to get her feet on the ball, saving a lot of possessions for her team.

Teammate Madison Haley of Texas was also a dangerous player on the outside and made a few dynamic runs.
 
Frankie Tagliaferri of PDA drew a penalty kick and converted for light blue late in the second half to get the final result.

In the second match, midfielder Jenna Bike of Connecticut was the player of the match. Bike played with superb confidence and drilled a picture-perfect 25-yard goal for the game’s only score.

Julia Bingham of Arsenal FC in California was another standout as an outside back as she was great on the ball and made life difficult for the light blue side.

“This was by far our best showing from the camp so far,” Ellis said. “The first national camp experience is always an anxiety-ridden experience for players. You try to make them as comfortable as possible and tell them to just come in and be free and confident.”

And with additional meetings this year, the message will have more time to sink in.

“We’ll meet again in August and have a follow up in October,” Ellis said. There will probably be new faces in the next camp and the final one we’ll get a chance to bring in the best from the two.” 

Lineups

Match No. 1
Light Blue
GK: Brooke Heinsohn
D: Zoe Morse, Kristen McFarland, Julie Mackin, Jlon Flippens
M: Avery Batson, Chloe Frisch, Daria Petredes
F: Madison Haley, Aminata Kalokoh, Frankie Tagliaferri

Dark Blue
GK: Mikayla Krzeczowski,
D: Carly Malatskey, Aerial Chavarin, Mia Gyau, Jaylyn Thompson
M: Savannah DeMelo, Nicole Whitley, Jordan Harr
F: Sunny Dunphy, Madison Schultz, Kaitlyn Bryan

Match No. 2
Dark  Blue
GK: Katherine Hess
D: Julia Bingham, Danika Bowman, Tatumn Milazzo , Amirah Ali
M: Mikaela Niermann, Jessica Shanahan, Lynsee Voss, 
F: Jenna Bike, Kalli Vogel, Kayla Arestivo

Light Blue

GK: Evangeline Soucie
D: Tatumn Milazzo, Alyssa Hinojosa, Samantha Bruder, Audrey Hegardt
M: Opal Curless, Luca Deza, Shea Moyer
F: Francesca Venezia, Brianne Folds, Shaelan Murison

Camp Roster (courtesy U.S. Soccer)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Katherine Hess (So Cal Blues; Newport Beach, Calif.), Brooke Heinsohn (NEFC Elite; Norfold, Mass.), Mikayla Krzeczowski (Concorde Fire; Douglasville, Ga.), Evangeline Soucie (PDA; Holland Township School)

DEFENDERS (10): Avery Batson (Birmingham United; Madison, Ala.), Danika Bowman (Arsenal F.C.; Mentone, Calif.), Samantha Bruder (Real So Cal; Bell Canyon, Calif.), Aerial Chavarin (East Bay United SC; Oakland, Calif.), Audrey Hegardt (San Diego Surf; San Diego Calif.), Alyssa Hinojosa (Los Angeles Premier FC; Sylmar, Calif.), Julie Mackin (Real Colorado; Castle Rock, Colo.), Carly Malatskey (Slammers FC; Newport Coast, Calif.), Tatumn Milazzo (Eclipse Select; Orland Park, Ill.), Jaylyn Thompson (PDA; Voorhees, N.J.), Kalli Vogel (NASA; Marietta Ga.)

MIDFIELDERS (19): Haley Berg (FC Dallas; Celina, Texas), Julia Bingham (Arsenal FC; Ontario, Calif.), Opal Curless (Black Bear United & Acadia Fire FC; Mount Desert, Me.), Savannah DeMelo (Beach FC; Bellflower, Calif.), Luca Deza (De Anza Force; Notre Dame Elementary), Jlon Flippens (FC Delco; Philadelphia, Pa.), Chloe Frisch (San Diego Surf; Carlsbad, Calif.), Mia Gyau (Bethesda Lions; Silver Spring, Md.), Jordan Harr (Dallas Texasn; Sachse, Texas), Zoe Morse (TNT Dynamite; East Lansing, Mich.), Shea Moyer (FC Revolution; Wyomissing Pa.), Mikaela Niermann (Eclipse Select; Geneva, Ill.), Daria Petredes (Corona Eagles FC; Yorba Linda, Calif.), Jessica Shanahan (NJSA Highland Fusion; Mullica Hill, N.J.), Kennedy Smith (Irvine Strikers FC; Irvine, Calif.), Mary-Alice Vignola (Ohio Elite; Terrace Park, Ohio), Lynsee Voss (Real So Cal; Simi Valley, Calif), Nicole Whitley (PDA; Freehold, N.J.), Frankie Tagliaferri (PDA; Keyport, N.J.)

FORWARDS (15): Amirah Ali (Winslow Soccer Club; Voorhes, N.J.), Kayla Arestivo (Dix Hills Soccer Club; Northport, N.Y.), Jenna Bike (Connecticut Football Club; Trumbull, Conn.), Kaitlyn Bryan (FC Stars of Massachusetts; Sanford, Mass.), Christina Cannella (NY Soccer Club; Cornwall, N.Y.), Sunny Dunphy (Carlsbad Elite; Carlsbad, Calif.), Brianne Folds (Lakeland Futbol Club; Lakeland, Fla.), Madison Haley (Dallas Texans; Dallas, Texas), Aminata Kalokoh (Los Angeles Premier FC; Pacific Palisades, Calif.), Alia Martin (Carmel United Soccer Club; Carmel, Ind.), Kristen McFarland (Ohio Premier; Powell, Ohio), Shaelan Murison (MVLA; Santa Clara, Calif.), Madison Schultz (Northwest Nationals; Edmonds, Wash.), Francesca Venezia (Albertson Fury; Wantagh, N.Y.), Kalli Vogel (NASA & AFU; Marietta Ga.)