Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide. This week is the release of the initial standings for the U13-U18 age groups for boys and girls for the 2014-15 season. Over the next few weeks, we will cover each age group more in-depth. Ther National Top 25 of each age group will be updated at least once per month.

Here’s a look at the No. 1 teams to start the season in each age group. Click here to see the rest of the rankings.

(scroll down for system details)

Girls

U13 So Cal Blues Baker The Blues have amassed just about every prestigious accolade possible at this young age group, and it’s no question they will be the team to beat this season. The 2014 Region IV champion, Cal South National Cup champion, as well as recent Surf Cup champion has already taken down some of the other top teams in the nation, including Dallas Sting 02 Higginbotham and SoCal rival Eagles.

U14 Arsenal FC ECNL Arsenal had two top teams in this age group last season, and from the looks of it, this team has the potential to be a U14 powerhouse, having already won Surf Cup over San Diego Surf, and having secured a 3-0 shutout of West Coast FC in its first match in the ECNL.

U15 Michigan Hawks ECNL Last year’s ECNL champion has the dynamic Alexa Spaanstra as the roster’s headliner, the No. 1 player in the IMG Academy 150 for the 2018 graduating class. Spaanstra should provide plenty of offense for this squad when not on national team duty, but the Hawks have already had a hiccup in their first game, only earning a draw against St. Louis Scott Gallagher.

U16 San Diego Surf ECNL Surf followed last year’s ECNL championship with a Surf Cup Super Group title. Forward Catarina Macario and U17 WNT goalkeeper Hillary Beall begin their quest for the No. 1 repeat on September 20 against a talent-heavy So Cal Blues squad which includes top players Ashley Sanchez, Karina Rodriguez and center back Danielle Satterwhite.

U17 Eclipse Select ECNL Can Eclipse complete the unthinkable three-peat? 2017 IMG Academy 150 standout Channing Foster already has a hat trick to start the season, and if she can top her 14 goal tally from last year with the U15s, Eclipse should be well on their way.

U18 Dallas Sting ECNL The U18 age group will be a tough one this season, with the top three teams all coming out of the gate right where they left off in July. Sting topped FC Dallas by a 5-0 margin last weekend, but will have a tough road in conference play. Dallas Texans have also started strong, and the No. 3 ranked team in the Grande TeamRank Top 25 will be out for revenge when they face No. 1 Sting on September 13.

Boys

U13 New York Red Bulls The well-known MLS academy has started its season in US Club Soccer’s Northeast Pre-Academy League with a 6-0 thumping of fellow MLS Academy DC United. This young age group has other top contenders such as Dallas Texans Pre Academy, FC Golden State PDA 02, and Baltimore Celtic.

U14 FC Golden State This SoCal favorite should fare well in its first season as a full-time Development Academy program at all age groups.

U15 Real Colorado National Last season’s US Youth Soccer Champion, United FA, won’t have the help of IMG Academy 150 Class of 2018 No. 1 Andrew Carleton, who has moved on to Georgia United’s Development Academy squad. The squad from the Atlanta-metro area will have a difficult time with the repeat at U15, so the US Youth Soccer runner up and US Club NPL champion Real Colorado National takes over at No. 1.

U16 LA Galaxy The 2014 Development Academy champions at this age group prepare to go at it again, starting the season with a 2-0 win over Strikers FC. Midfielder Jose Enrique Bustamante should lead this team to a top spot in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank by the season’s end.

U17 Baltimore Celtic The 2014 US Youth Soccer National and Region I champion will hope to add a US Youth Soccer National League title to their trophy case. U17 Men’s National Team member Keegan Kelley is a force to be reckoned with in the midfield for this squad.

U18 PDA The 2014 Development Academy champion has reloaded for the 2014-15 season, drawing players from surrounding MLS academies to make a run at a repeat title. IMG Academy 150 No. 37 and fall high school All-America Watch List defensive mid Andersen Asiedu will join the squad again once he completes his final high school season with St. Benedict’s Prep.

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Boys

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.