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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U16 and U18 enjoy holiday rest

With just one match on the schedule for any of our ranked teams in these two age groups, the rankings remain the same to start the New Year. Real Salt Lake AZ U18s won a decisive match against De Anza Force on December 13, with regional standout Jose Hernandez earning a hat trick in the 5-1 affair. With this win, RSL improves its record to 12-1-3 and solidifies its No. 3 spot in the Grand Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

More:  IMG Academy 150 rankings | Disney Showcase Boys Best XI |

National League brings rewards at U17

The top five fared well enough in December to retain their respective rankings, and a couple of teams made significant advances based on U.S. Youth Soccer National League play.

No. 1 Baltimore Celtic opened its National League campaign in North Carolina with a 3-0-1 record good enough for third place in the Red Division. Celtic remains the only team in either division without a loss and will conclude National League play in March. In addition to the competition in Raleigh, Celtic entered the Disney Showcase to finish the year, but not as part of its National League schedule, and came away with the Showcase Gray championship, beating No. 17 FC Tampa Rangers in the final.

Arlington Impact Red had a tough go of it in the Virginia Youth Soccer State cup, falling in the final to Virginia Legacy SC CCL Elite, but still has a chance to advance to the National Championship via National League play. Though Arlington has completed its schedule, its fate won’t be known until play concludes for the group in March, but last year’s Region I runner up currently sits on top of the Blue Division standings with a 5-1-1 record, its only loss in the league to No. 7 FC Alliance Black.

Fullerton Rangers White makes its debut in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 at No. 19 after finishing the Coast Soccer League fall season in second, just behind No. 2 Santa Barbara SC White. Rangers did not participate in the California Regional League, and therefore did not enter our rankings in the fall, but concluded their first weekend of National League play with a 2-1-1 record, its only loss a close 1-0 result to No. 4 Sunrise Elite.

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.