Kate Morris attends U14 National Camp

CARSON, California - With an eye toward the next level, the U.S. U14s are training hard in what is the home stretch of their weeklong camp which ends Sunday. Thirty-six players took the field Thursday during a training that was supervised by U.S. Women's Development Director Jill Ellis as well as U.S. U15 coach Damon Nahas.

Nahas, of course, is evaluating talent for his next U15 camp. But beyond his U15 agenda, Nahas' presence represented a new marriage between U.S. Soccer's age groups. April Heinrichs touched on it during a joint U18/U20 camp this past summer, and it's been evident ever since that the U.S. program is making more of an effort to integrate all coaches and players for the benefit of overall development.

"Our focus is to all have the same message and philosophy," Ellis said. "So we share information; coaches are having conversations to create a constant message that players can grasp through all levels."

On Thursday, the U14s were grasping positional training as well as constant quick touch drills. With 32 of the players coming from the National I.D. Camp in Portland back in August, there's a good camaraderie among the young group. There's also a strong California contingent that includes Melissa Lowder, Eva Buechler, Aerial Chavarin, Tegan McGrady, Ally Prisock, Marley Canales and Peyton Perea - to name a few.

The team will take on two Californian U15 squads on Saturday, representing the final test in the last U14 gathering for this team.

This week is also representing a continued learning process for Ellis, who was named U.S. Women's Development Director in January. A foremost college coach with UCLA prior to joining U.S. Soccer, Ellis has had to make more than a few adjustments. "The past eight months I've really gained an understanding of the club soccer world," Ellis said. "The biggest role models and those with the greatest influence on players are the club coaches. So it's been a matter of understanding the challenges and resources they have and getting the education of where we are. It's been good."

U.S. U14 GNT Camp Roster

GOALKEEPERS (4): Mikayla Krzeczowski (Concorde Fire; Douglasville, Ga.), Melissa Lowder (Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks; San Diego, Calif.), Sabrina Macias (Colorado Rush, Littleton, Colo.), Olivia Silverman (Hammer FC; Cincinnati, Ohio)

DEFENDERS (6): Eva Buechler (San Diego Surf; Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), Aerial Chavarin (Bay Oaks; San Leandro, Calif.), Alana Cook (Match Fit Chelsea Colchesters; Far Hills, N.J.), Ellie Jean (Oakwood Soccer Club; Coventry, Conn.), Tegan McGrady (MVLA Mercury Black; San Jose, Calif.), Ally Prisock (Arsenal FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (16): Dorian Bailey (KCFC Fury; Mission, Kan.), Lauren Brown (FC Bucks; Shamong, N.J.), Marley Canales (San Diego Soccer Club; San Diego, Calif.), Gabriella Carriero (FC Stars of Massachusetts; Upton, Mass.), Mia Gyau (Bethesda Lions; Silver Springs, Md.), Alexius Hill (Real National; Centennial, Colo.), Kayla Jennings (Match Fit Chelsea; Montclair, N.J.), Kate Morris (Michigan Hawks; Plymouth, Mich.), Katie Murray (Kings Soccer Academy; Cincinnati, Ohio), Peyton Perea (Legends FC; Riverside, Calif.), Gabriela Rivera (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.), Marissa Sheva (Penn Fusion; Sellersville, Pa.), Ella Stevens (GSA Phoenix Red; Grayson, Ga.), Kaycie Tillman (Sting; Rowlett, Texas),Jill Vetere (Ohio Elite; Mason, Ohio), Michelle Xiao (OFC Elite; Omaha, Neb.

FORWARDS (10): Bridgette Andrzejewski (PSC Baltimore; Lutherville, Md.), Hanna Armendariz (West Coast FC; West Covina, Calif.), Keri Cavallo (Massapequa Stars; Rockville Centre, N.Y.), Courtney Corrin (Westside Breakers; Playa Vista, Calif.), Michelle Maemone (MVLA Mercury Black; San Jose, Calif.), Jacey Pederson (PSV Union; Palo Alto, Calif), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zoe Redei (Eclipse Select; Highland Park, Ill.), Anika Rodriguez (So Cal Blues; Torrance, Calif.), Jennifer Westendorf (GSA; Montgomery, Ala.)

Article Written By Jahmal Corner, ESNN