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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Concorde off to good start at U16

Concorde Fire is in the process of blending 2001 birth year players with newcomers including Lillian Babalola, Jessica Wheeler, Mia Wood, and Margaret Davis. Coach James Harris says that while the team has a long way to go, they are getting used to each other and to the Concorde style of play - their 4-0 start in conference action proving just that. Harris also says that the team’s 15 goals have come from a variety of players including Vann Morgan Smith, Riley Rose, Croix Bethune, and Katherine Hershfelt. Concorde starts the season at No. 3.

More: Commitments | IMG Academy 150 Rankings

Surf strong at U17

San Diego Surf, debuting at No. 12, started the season in early August, winning a Surf Cup championship over a plethora of SoCal ECNL teams as well as No. 2 Crossfire Premier, then toppled No. 6 So Cal Blues 2-0 in the final. Surf then continued its win streak as it began its ECNL regular season with a win over Slammmers.

Solar Chelsea picks up where the U16 team left off in June, at No. 5 in the Grande Sports TeamRank Top 25. Solar earned two wins in ECNL play over conference foes Texas Rush and D’Feeters to secure its ranking.

Early season push at U18

Tophat SC, up four spots from its season ending No. 17 ranking at this new age group, is already trying to show that the birth year groupings are benefitting their club. They are currently undefeated in each ECNL age group, but the U17 and U18 teams have been particularly prolific. They have a total of 59 goals between then, each has conceded just three, and the U18 team has received goals 10 different players. Seniors Casey Wertz (Alabama) and Caroline Orman lead the way in scoring with six and five goals, respectively.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

Grande Sports 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.