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.

(scroll down for system details)

With California in the midst of high school soccer and the northeast under up to six feet of snow, few matches occurred during the month of January. With that said, there were still some performances worth highlighting below.

Orlando City still undefeated at U16

Orlando City continues to climb up the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25, landing at No. 8 after extending its unbeaten streak in the ECNL to 13. The key to this squad’s rise during the 2014-15 season is the addition of defender and 2017 IMG Academy 150 No. 54 ranked Jacqueline Schaefer, who transferred to Orlando City from USYS National League participant Jacksonville FC over the summer. Schaefer was a US Club Soccer id2 participant and US Youth Soccer Region III team member, but earned her first invitation to the U.S. U17 Youth National Team last fall, and has led this defense to just six goals against in 13 matches, the best in the ECNL’s U16 age group (with more than 12 matches played). In addition to her defensive efforts, Schaefer also has two goals to her credit, including the only goal in a 1-1 draw with conference rival No. 21 Concorde Fire, keeping the unbeaten streak alive.

More: ECNL Scoreboard | IMG Academy 150 Rankings | SIMA Winter Fab 50 HS Rankings

Pacific Northwest busy at U17, U18

In the U17 age group, No. 2 Real Colorado versus No. 4 FC Virginia will be the featured match at the ECNL Texas Showcase in a few weeks. These teams along with others in the top 25 are busy preparing for the big event.  In the Pacific Northwest, however, conference matches were on the docket, with FC Portland continuing its climb, up three spots to No. 21. FC Portland earned two wins since our last update and extends it unbeaten streak to seven matches.

Colorado Rush U18 traveled to Portland for ECNL Northwest Conference action last weekend and came away with wins against Mountain Division opponents FC Portland and Crossfire United, solidifying its rank at No. 9. U.S. U20 Women’s National Team pool member and BYU commit for the Class of 2015 Sabrina Macias has earned five shutouts for this Rush squad that has just five goals against in its 11 matches.

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.

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