Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, releasing the latest standings for U16, U17 and U18 Boys. Next week, we will update the older age groups on the Girls side. We will update our National Top 25 for each age group at least once per month.

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Union remains perfect at U16

Only one team remains with a perfect record in the Development Academy, and that team, Philadelphia Union, climbs up two spots to the top of the Grand Sports Academy TeamRank top 25. But the Union will face the team it just knocked off the top, New York Red Bulls, on Saturday. The Red Bulls could only muster a draw against No. 12 PDA on October 18, dropping them to No. 2.

Hugely successful in the month of October was Strikers FC, who climb from No. 17 to No 7. Strikers gained wins over No. 9 Real Salt Lake-AZ and No. 23 FC Golden State, among others, on their way to an 8-2-2 record and the top position in the Southwest Division.

MORE:  IMG Academy 150 rankings | Five top U16 DA teams | Five Top U18 DA teams

FC Dallas Premier debuts at U17

Though not part of the USYS Region III Premier League West, FC Dallas Youth Premier has been racking up wins in the Southern Premier League (the top league in Region III) and the CCSAI Chamber Classic League since August, and debuts at No. 23 in our standings. Last season’s USYS North Texas State Cup champion suffered an early loss to No. 17 United FA-Norcross in the SPL, but turned things around less than 24 hours later when they defeated No. 18 FC Tampa Rangers, leaving them third in the SPL standings with two matches left to play. In North Texas local league play, FC Dallas has emerged as the leader, five points ahead of now No. 25 and Region III Premier League West leader Solar Chelsea 98.

Whitecaps reach the top at U18

The Vancouver Whitecaps continue their perfect reign in the U18 Development Academy. With a 9-0-0 record at this point in the season, including a win over No. 9 Seattle Sounders in the first match, and if they can survive a match against No. 14 San Jose Earthquakes on November 16, the Whitecaps could remain at No. 1 for the foreseeable future.

Houston Dynamo climbs from No. 25 to No. 18 as it takes over the top spot in the Frontier Division standings. Led by IMG Academy 150 standouts Christian Lucatero (No. 17) and Juan Martinez (No. 53), the Dynamo have already defeated No. 6 FC Dallas but won’t face No. 11 Solar Chelsea until the end of January.

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Girls

Grande Sports Academy TeamRank is the comprehensive team-ranking system devised by TopDrawerSoccer.com to provide an objective and common-sense approach to determining which elite youth soccer teams are the best in the nation.

The rankings, updated monthly, are primarily results-based, with a nod toward the league and championship competitions that emulate how excellence is determined in leading soccer nations around the world.

Tournaments are also included but at a reduced value due to the many mitigating factors involving such events, including attrition and guest players.

A final layer of executive evaluation is provided to account for variables that often impact results, thus ensuring that the monthly lists are not subjective, but are not purely mechanical.