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

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Blues still No. 1, Legends rise at U16

So Cal Blues topped its draw to open the season with three shutout wins since our last update to remain No. 1. The Blues may still be in second place in the Southwest Conference, but were the team to hand conference topper West Coast FC its first loss of the season. The Blues are followed by Michigan Hawks and Solar Chelsea, respectively, both of whom remain first in their respective conferences with 6-0 records.

Legends FC 99 climbs four spots to No. 20 after a stellar start in the Southern California Developmental Soccer League. Legends remains undefeated and on top of the standings in the U17 Champions Division, playing a year up.

More: Commitments | ECNL Spotlight | IMG Academy 150 Rankings

FC Virginia, SC Del Sol debut at U17

Both FC Virginia and SC Del Sol are having great starts to the ECNL season, and are new to the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

FCV, at No. 19, is 4-0 to top the Chesapeake Division, with Virginia Tech recruit Lillian Weber leading her team with five goals on the season.

SC Del Sol, at No. 20, has benefitted from the addition of former Crossfire Premier and Youth National Team forward Kelsey Turnbow, who moved to the area for the 2015-16 season. Turnbow has provided three goals and three assists in six matches to help her team to a 5-1 record and a current second place in the Southwest Conference.

Hawks climb at U18

Michigan Hawks are on a 5-0 streak since our last update and have climbed to second place in the Midwest Conference, jumping six spots to No. 13 in our rankings. A couple of factors in the Hawks success are the finishing prowess of forward/midfielder Emma Tokuyama and the addition of midfielder Alexa Spaanstra to the U18 roster. Tokuyama is having a breakout year in her senior season, having already matched her goal total for all of last year, 6, in just the first month and a half. U20 Women’s National Team forward Spaanstra has played two years up on the U18s for the last three matches, scoring twice against St. Louis Scott Gallagher – Illinois on October 11.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

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.