Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide, and we release the latest standings for U16, U17 and U18 Girls. Next week, we will update the younger age groups on the Boys side. We will update our National Top 25 of each age group at least once per month.

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Top ten movement at U16

The top four at this age group remain unchanged, but two teams in the top 10 fared well enough in recent showcases and regular season matches to move up the ranks.

FC Stars of Mass started its ECNL season with a 6-0 record – three conference wins and three wins at the ECNL Sanford Showcase, including a 2-0 shutout of No. 2 Michigan Hawks and a 3-1 defeat of No. 18 FC Virginia to move up to No. 5.

Jacksonville FC climbs two spots to No. 6 after an undefeated run at the Sanford showcase extends its overall record to 10-0-5. Forward Grace Kiser scored three goals at the showcase to bring her team-leading season total to 15 goals in 15 matches.

More: Commitments | ECNL Sanford Showcase coverage

Texas Conference foes continue rise at U17

Dallas Texans continued its win streak last month with its second consecutive 3-0 run at an ECNL showcase, this time in Florida. The Texans climb to No. 6 in our rankings after securing wins against No. 8 Match Fit Academy and No. 12 PDA, as well as a 2-1 defeat of Orlando City. Texas A&M recruit Alexandria Griffin scored a goal in each of the three matches, upping her season total to 19. Griffin, along with Brittany Martin and Allisyn Gardner, are also teammates at No. 1 ranked Southlake Carroll High School.

Topping the Texas Conference however is TSC Hurricane, who remains undefeated in ECNL play and climbs to No. 2 in the Grande Sports TeamRank Top 25. The Hurricane has a 12-0-4 record overall and has three Arkansas recruits with goals in the double digits. Parker Goins, Taylor Malham, and Nayeli Perez have combined for an impressive 38 goals between them, and all are ranked in the IMG Academy Top 150.

Tophat finishes, Maryland United begins at U18

Tophat finished its final ECNL season before the end of the year, and finish strong they did, coming away with three wins at the Florida Showcase. Their first match of the showcase was a 2-1 defeat of No. 10 Michigan Hawks on a brace by Vanderbilt recruit Kaylann Boyd. Furman recruit Treva Aycock scored four of her 22 goals on the season in the final two matches, with a hat trick against McLean Youth Soccer and a goal against Charlotte SA. Tophat climbs to No. 15 after finishing the season poised to top the Southeast Conference standings, Boca United the only team with a chance to catch them in the spring.

Entering the rankings at No. 22 is Maryland United, a team with the majority of its season left to be played in the spring. Harry Canellakis’ squad is benefitting this season from the addition of Bridgette Andrzejewski, the IMG Academy 150 No. 16 ranked player in the class of 2016. Andrzejewski, a North Carolina recruit, has eight goals in just six matches, and with the help of team veteran Kia Rankin (NC State), the second leading scorer with five, Maryland United sits in second place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

Grande Sports 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.