Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, releasing the latest standings for U13, U14 and U15 Boys. Next week, we will update the younger age groups on the Girls side. We will update our Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 for each age group at least once per month.

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Gap closes at U13

New York Red Bulls 2000 suffered its first loss of the season, falling 1-0 to unranked FC Bolts, but retains the top spot in the Northeast Pre-Academy League with a 19-1 record and keeps the No. 1 position in our standings. Baltimore Celtic inches closer to the Red Bulls in the rankings this month after winning the Maryland Youth Soccer state cup and the Region I Premier League.

Chivas USA Academy climbs two spots to No. 9 upon being crowned champion of the prestigious Dallas Cup. Chivas survived the rigors of the week-long tournament while five other teams in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank didn’t fare so well, including No. 6 FC Golden State, who had previously beaten the Goats in the semifinals of the CalSouth National Cup in March.

Teams spring ahead at U14

Just like its U13 counterpart, New York Red Bulls U14 Development Academy squad suffered its first loss of the season, 1-0 to an unranked opponent. Match Fit Academy emerged the victor last Saturday on a goal by IMG Academy 150 No. 104 Miles Franklyn, but the Red Bulls still have the best record in the USSDA and retain the top spot in our rankings.

MORE: Development Academy U14 scoreboard | IMG Academy 150 rankings

April’s packed schedule in this age group allowed some teams to leap ahead of the competition. Weston FC, Real So Cal and New England Revolution all added significant points to their totals, which led to jumps in their Grande Sports Academy TeamRank standings. Weston secured wins over four conference opponents since our last update and with only one loss on the season, climbs from No. 11 to No. 3. Real So Cal continues to dominate the SoCal with three 3-0 victories in the last month and moves all the way to No. 5. New England Revolution had five matches on the docket, winning four and earning a draw with NJSA 04, which takes them from No. 22 to No. 13.

Loudoun one step closer at U15

Virginia Youth Soccer state cup champion and USYS National League blue division winner Loudoun FC Red just keeps adding to its trophy case, this time with a Region I Premier League championship. Loudoun downed No. 22 Soccer Domain FC in the RIPL final to retain our No. 1 ranking. Only two championship tourneys left for this squad (Region I Championships and USYS Nationals) before it can say it won the equivalent of the grand slam of youth soccer.

Just a couple of weeks after falling to Las Vegas SA in the semifinals of the exhausting Dallas Cup, Solar Chelsea Red Passos redeemed itself with a North Texas State Cup championship, rebounding one spot in our rankings to No. 9.

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.