Today we take a look at the U13, U14 and U15 Boys in our monthly Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 update. Keep following us throughout the season as we track the best teams in the country.

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Red Bulls end on top at U13

New York Red Bulls 01 finished the season right where they started, never falling from the top spot in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. The Red Bulls lone loss during the Northeast Pre Academy League regular season was to fellow NYC metro rival Albertson SC at the beginning of April, but NYRB made no mistake during the NEPAL playoffs, topping Albertson by a 4-1 margin in the league semifinals, then squeaking by No. 3 Cedar Stars Academy in the final to qualify for the NPL Nationals. At Nationals, the Red Bulls proceeded to score 26 goals while allowing just two for a resounding vote as the TeamRank No. 1.

Season finale for U14

LA Galaxy finished the season with a 2-1 record at the Development Academy Indiana showcase. That record began with a 4-2 win over now No. 4 New York Red Bulls, and ended with a wild and narrow 5-4 loss to No. 1 Vardar, but it was enough to vault the Galaxy ahead of the Red Bulls and former No. 2 FC Golden State to end the year at No. 2. Galaxy standouts Kevin Negrete, Kyle Holcomb, and Zico Bailey provided enough spark for this squad to earn mention as top players from the event.

Seattle Sounders and fellow Northwest Division foes Crossfire Premier, Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps don’t play a regular season in the Development Academy at this age group, so none of them figured into the rankings during the regular season. But the Sounders now have two showcases under their belt and have proven they can play with the top academies in the country. Sounders went 3-0 in Indiana which included a 3-1 win over former Top 25 DC United to finish the season ranked No. 25 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

MORE: Dev, Acad. U14 Best XI | IMG Academy 150 rankings | U.S. Youth Nationals Coverage

Sporting KC, Fewster climb at U15

Though Georgia United still holds on to the No. 1 spot thanks to a qualifying finish in the USYS National League and first place in the Southern Premier League earlier this season, Sporting KC Academy is making an argument for a takeover as the season ends. After finishing the National League season a disappointing fourth in the Blue division behind Fullerton Rangers, Georgia United, and Dallas Texans, Sporting went on a postseason run, winning the Kansas State Cup followed by the Region II Championships to qualify for nationals. Two matches into group play and SKC is the only undefeated team left in the tournament, climbing to No. 2 as a result. 

Fewster FC is making a significant run of its own and lands up 11 spots to No. 12. The tiny Maryland-based club’s U15s finished fourth in the inaugural Region I Champions League top division behind now No. 3 Arlington Eagles Red and No. 12 Baltimore Celtic Christos; not good enough for a ranking. But once the post season began, Fewster ran the table at the USYS Maryland State Cup in May, exacted revenge against Arlington Eagles in the Region I Championships semifinals, then more revenge against Region I Champions League winner Dix Hills Hurricanes in the final. Fewster has a win and a draw entering the final day of group play in Tulsa, but will face nemesis Arlington Eagles once again for a chance to advance.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Girls

Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 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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