Today we unveil our latest update 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 update our National Top 25 for each age group at least once per month.

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New entrants at U16

Philadelphia Union had two strong shutouts to begin the season and moves up two spots from No. 8 to No. 6. But there are three teams who debut in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 based on strong opening weekends. Sockers FC, at No. 22, opened the 2014-15 campaign with a 3-0 record, including victories over Indiana Fire, Internationals, and Crew Soccer Academy. South Carolina United Battery, at No. 23, rebounded from a tough opening weekend 3-3 draw with Concorde Fire, to take down U.S. youth national team-laden Georgia United in a 3-2 contest. IMG Academy 150 Class of 2018 No. 1 ranked Andrew Carleton and Class of 2017 No. 9 Juan Pablo Torres were both in the mix for Georgia United, but it was U15BNT member Jonathan Amon’s squad that won on the day. Finally, FC Wisconsin Nationals take the last spot at No. 25 on the heels of two 3-0 wins over Mid-America division opponents Crew Soccer Academy and Internationals.

Southeast, Southwest compete at U17

No. 1 Baltimore Celtic will remain at the top while many of its players compete for High School Fall Fab 50 No. 2 ranked McDonough School. Two of those players, Michael DeShields and Cale Thorne, are class of 2016 standouts who recently made Best XI lists at the TDS Tri-State Combine. Celtic, along with many of the teams in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 at this age group, won’t begin club play until the USYS National League begins in November.

For those competing in the fall, FC Golden State Platinum has fared well over the opening weekends of league play in the Southern California Developmental Soccer League and climbs from No. 21 to No. 19. New to the rankings at No. 25 is Tennessee SC 16 who tops Region III’s Southern Premier League standings with a 4-0 record, including wins over No. 21 United FA-Norcross and previously ranked FC Tampa Rangers.

More: Dev. Academy Season Preview | IMG Academy 150 rankings | Fall Fab 50 HS Rankings

Goals galore at U18

Of the top five at this age group, four are MLS Academies, with No. 1 PDA the lone non-MLS affiliate. Four of the five have started the season on a positive note, and No. 4 FC Dallas will begin its season this Saturday against No. 11 Solar Chelsea SC. No. 3 LA Galaxy has had the most prolific start to the season with 10 goals in just two matches, half of them by class of 2015 forward Adrian Vera, but Real Salt Lake AZ is holding its own, with two 5-0 wins and hanging on to a 1-1 draw against a tough Pateadores squad after going down a man in the final minutes.

Vancouver Whitecaps quickly move up the ranks to No. 7 with a decisive 5-0 win over San Juan SC and a 3-2 result against Seattle Sounders. In addition to the Whitecaps, Carolina Rapids will be another team to keep an eye on this season, having earned a win and a draw in their first two matches. With the return of scoring threats David Lozano and Tanner Roberts, who combined for 51 goals last season, and the addition of IMG Academy 150 class of 2016 standout Phillip Goodrum to the older squad, the No. 13 Rapids will be tough for defenses to handle in the coming year.

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.

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