One of the great aspects of bringing together elite soccer players for the US Youth National team camps is observing how all the different talents and personality types fit together - it’s something like a science experiment.

Within these gifted gatherings, each player will stand out for a different reason, but the players you inevitably find yourself drawn to are the ones that show an overwhelming desire to want to be there.  

This week at the U18 Women’s camp in Carson, Calif., Kathryn Bennett will be one of those players.

“I think these camps are really fun because you get to see people you usually don’t, and compete with a lot of good players,” Bennett gushed. “You improve so much because the level of play is so high. I can’t wait.”

The irony is that Bennett isn’t a newcomer to national competition. A star player with Crossfire Premier in Kirkland, Wash., US Soccer camps have become a yearly occurrence for this midfielder.

Back in November, she played in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand along with players like Amber Brooks, Erika Tymrak, Courtney Verloo, Victoria DiMartino, Kristen Mewis and Hayley Brock.

For Bennett, it was an event that evoked as much consternation as excitement.

“She was really nervous about making the team,” said Crossfire Premier coach Dick McCormick. “There was a long stretch leading up to the competition where she was really uncertain about whether she thought she would make it. It was pretty apparent she would be on the team to all of us coaches, but for her she was concerned.

“These national camps definitely mean a lot to her.”

Committed to play soccer at California in 2010, and with her standing among her age group on solid ground, this camp should be as stress-free for Bennett as any national gathering can be.

But it won’t. Not with her competitiveness and desire.

“When you have a bad day at training you’re always wondering where you stand,” Bennett said. “It feels good to know where I’ll be playing college but you still have to work hard.”

And work hard Bennett does.

She has great size and athleticism, and thrives as a passer and a hard worker off the ball, but her winning attribute is her commitment to the game.

 “I coached her from the time she was 10 until she was 13,” said McCormick, who took a three year hiatus from Crossfire Premier before returning for this season. “Kate has always stood out technically because of how hard she works. She goes and trains with boys' teams and is always working on extra shooting and dribbling.”

Said Bennett: “I love practicing with the boys because it’s a really fast tempo. I also do a lot of footwork and ball skills.”

It doesn’t take long before the motive behind Bennett’s drive makes its way to the surface.

“I just want to be on the national team so bad,” she admitted. “I would love to play in the Olympics someday, that would be awesome. I just have to keep getting better.”