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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CalSouth National Cup underway at U13

While most regions of the country are just beginning play for the spring season, CalSouth is nearing the finals of National Cup (state cup) play, and teams are vying for a spot in the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships. No. 2 FC Golden State PDA 01 has sailed into the semifinals, where it will be challenged by No.12 Chivas USA Academy. The most interesting matchup this weekend, however, will be when new No. 23 Pateadores Pre-Academy meets rival and new No. 24 San Diego Surf Academy 1. The Pats have been on the rise after finishing the fall season a respectable fourth overall in the Southern California Developmental Soccer League, one spot ahead of Surf, and are fresh off a 3-0 National Cup quarterfinal win against No. 14 San Diego SC Academy Navy, who just claimed the inaugural Cal Regional League crown over Surf (who finished fifth).

Eying the Prize at U14

It’s going to be hard to keep No. 1 New York Red Bulls Academy, 10-0-1, from earning the bid to the Manchester United Cup Finals in England, but several teams are having a go of it as Development Academy play ramps up this spring. No. 2 Chicago Fire Academy is in the hunt with a record of 10-0-3, but doesn’t resume play until this weekend. Georgia United climbs from No. 10 to No. 8 after securing two more ticks in the win column, but the Atlanta squad’s 5-1 loss to Red Bulls last fall will almost certainly keep them home come August.

Also with a fair shot at the bid is Dallas Texans, who remain undefeated in Development Academy play at 10-0-3, an identical record to Chicago Fire whom they tied back in October. The Texans’ ranking got a boost, from No. 20 all the way to No. 10, on February 22 when they topped No. 5 FC Dallas on a Blake Willis goal in the 37th minute.

National League shuffles standings at U15

The US Youth Soccer National League proved exciting this year, and the final weekend of play in Nevada caused quite a turnover in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. No. 1 Loudoun FC Red and new No. 11 Albion SC came out on top in each division. Loudoun was the favorite all along and the only team not to concede a goal throughout league play, while Albion pulled out a win in the final minutes of its final match to launch from third to first in the red division, snatching the divisional crown from No. 10 Collierville Lobos of Tennessee, who beat Albion in league play in North Carolina.

After finishing fourth in the Southern Premier League and second in the Region III Premier League West last fall, new No. 22 Oklahoma FC has been out to prove itself in the tournament circuit this spring. And prove itself it has, making championship runs in both the President’s Day tournament in Arizona and the Jefferson Cup in Virginia. Though OFC narrowly lost in group play at Jefferson Cup to No. 13 Charlotte United, who is making a run of its own this spring, they made it through to the final on points, and survived 2014 Washington State Cup champ Crossfire Premier to take home the trophy.

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.