The U.S. U15 Girls National Team had a strong weekend at the Nike Friendlies at Home Depot Center in Southern California, defeating a trio of U17 club teams by a combined score of 15-2.

The squad, led into action by USSF National Staff coach Mike Dickey as team coach Tad Bobak was attending to personal matters, defeated FC Delco 5-0, Irvine Strikers 6-0 and Real Colorado 4-2.

Observers at the games commented at how well the squad connected passes in order to keep possession for sustained periods of time. Four of the squad players who spoke with TopDrawerSoccer.com mentioned the same thing.

"I thought we played really well. We connected really well as we got to know how each other and how we each like to play," said Kansas City Scream midfielder Kaysie Clark. "We played really hard the whole weekend."

"It's hard at first because we've never really worked together before and we're from all over the country," said Real So Cal defender Marie Mackenzie. "Then we started bonding more and that made it easier to connect. The passing is better because you know they won't lose it and they'll do everything to get the ball back to you. We kept possession most of the time. It was fun."

Honolulu SC midfielder and winger Caprice Dydasco also marveled at how quickly the group meshed during the long weekend.

"It's like a whole new group of girls from the last national team (age group). But we worked together really well as a team," Dydasco said. "Our chemistry was good. Good players are able to adapt to anything I guess, but we passed the ball well."

Bethesda SC forward Alexandra (Alex) Doll thought the team saved its best performance for its toughest opponent in a 4-2 Sunday win over Real Colorado.

Especially in that last game, we played really well," she said. "Everyone wanted to finish strong in that last game, plus every game got to know each other a little better each day and it helped us on the field. We were a little frantic at the end of the first half and we tried to force it a little, but after the halftime talk we did much better. It was better because in the other games we were up 5-0 or 6-0 and this game was still close at the end."

As Kaz Tambi's U17 Girls National Team gets ready for this November's FIFA World Cup, it hits home that this age group will be the core group for the 2010 version of the event, something that is not lost on the girls in the team.

"It's cool to think that some of us could be going to that and we could be playing together at an event like that," Clark said. "It's cool to think about but we have to train a lot more and get a lot better and stay motivated for that. I think we get along really well on and off the field. We enjoy each other's company and that really showed when we played."

For Mackenzie, the novelty of the national team experience still hasn't worn off.

"It is actually really fun," she said. "It is so amazing to walk in the locker room and have all this stuff laid out, and our names on the lockers. Everyone was freaking out. You really learn that it's not all about yourself. Everyone here is equal and if one person has a bad game, it doesn't matter because everyone is backing them up."

The 93s will get together again as a national team Thanksgiving week as part of U.S. Youth Soccer's ODP Interregional in Coral Springs, FL, this time probably with 18 in the squad instead of 24.

U.S. U-15 GNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Anna Cassell (Salt Lake City, Utah), Miranda Cornejo (Vista, Calif.), Bryane Heaberlin (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Abby Smith (Dallas, Texas);
DEFENDERS (7): Brannon Olivia (Troy, Mich.), Megan Hunsberger, (Bethlehem, Pa.), Abigail Lutzenkirchen, (Marietta, Ga.), Marie MacKenzie (Palmdale, Calif.), Sarah Molina (Rocky River, Ohio), Kathryn Nigro (Livingston, Tenn.), Samantha Phillips (Chesapeake, Va.);
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kaysie Clark (Liberty, Mo.), Caprice Dydasco (Honolulu, Hawaii), Alexandra (Alex) Doll (Bethesda, Md.), Alexandra Heffron, (Lowell, Mich.), Loeau LaBonta (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Shelby Payne (Lutz, Fla.), Haley Rosen (Palos Verdes, Calif.), Olivia Schultz (Hopkins, Minn.), Karin Simonian (Westbury, N.Y.);
FORWARDS (4): Shea Groom (Liberty, Mo.), Christina Murillo (Ojai, Calif.), Cate Parchinski (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Emily Sippel (Beaverton, Ore.)