As the 2013-14 season reaches its end in the month of July, we unveil the penultimate updates 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 unveil the final rankings for all age groups on August 1.

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Academy playoffs produce new stars at U16

Academy playoffs always produce some interesting results, as some teams, seemingly assured of a trip to the finals based on regular season results, stumble while others rise to the occasion, extending their season for another couple of weeks. Such was the case with FC Dallas and Strikers FC. FC Dallas was a top contender heading to Indiana, and even finished the weekend without a loss, but the fourth overall seed finished second its group to San Jose Earthquakes, and drops from No. 2 to No. 7 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

Strikers FC spent the entire Development Academy regular season in playoff qualification limbo, hovering between third and fourth in the tough southwest division.  Squeaking into the playoffs with a wildcard berth, Strikers went 2-0-1 over the weekend with the help of a defensive unit that didn’t concede a goal in three matches (goalkeeper Dakota Havlick and defenders Cameron Mardan, Evan Williams (San Francisco verbal), Jack Kerins, Anthony Badea, and AJ Harb).  Strikers leap to No. 11 in our standings and will face No. 1 New York Red Bulls on July 8 in New Jersey.

Region champions rise at U17

It’s the region I Battle of New York in US Youth Soccer realms, with Manhattan SC PSG and Smithtown Kickers trading titles (and rankings) heading into the national championships. Both contenders for a national title, Manhattan PSG is gaining the upper hand as the season comes to a close, having recently topped Smithtown in New York East state cup play and head to head at the region I championships. Manhattan PSG climbs from No. 6 in our standings to No. 1 heading into USYS nationals, but Smithtown only drops one spot to No. 2.

Both New York clubs will have to contend with FC Dallas Youth Premier and Chicago Fire YSC, both of whom are on championship runs at the moment, and may be a bit under-valued in a points based ranking system. Though FC Dallas did not earn significant points during the regular season, the top non-Academy team from the MLS club was crowned USYS Region III champion in June (after winning the North Texas State Cup), surpassing USYS National League contender and No. 7 GSA Phoenix Premier as well as Region III Premier League East division winner Boca United along the way. FC Dallas climbs to No. 5 and is poised to do well at nationals later this month.

Chicago Fire’s season didn’t even start until this spring, but a Midwest Regional League title coupled with an Illinois Youth Soccer State Cup championship and the USYS Region I crown gives the Fire some late momentum, helping them climb from No. 23 to No. 9 in our standings.

Red Bulls, RSL out at U18

Two teams always on the short list for a Development Academy championship won’t be in contention this year. New York Red Bulls, last year’s champion at the U17/U18 age group, and Real Salt Lake-AZ who won the U15/U16 bracket, were topped by Shattuck St. Mary’s and Seattle Sounders, respectively, in the DA playoffs, and won’t have a chance to repeat as champion.

As luck would have it, New York Red Bulls had to face 2012-13 runner-up Shattuck St. Mary’s in group play, and although the match ended in a draw, Minnesota’s famed boarding school and soccer residency program won the group by the slimmest of tie-breaker margins, advancing to finals week and climbing to No. 5 in our rankings.

Real Salt Lake-AZ was ousted by a Seattle Sounders squad that put an astronomical 17 goals in the back of the net over the course of the week in Indiana. After their performance at playoffs, Sounders are positioned to do very well next week against Montreal Impact on home turf and climb to No. 4 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

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.