Today we unveil our latest update to Grande 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 No. 1 at U16

Crew Soccer Academy Wolves remains undefeated in Development Academy play and takes over the top spot in the Grande TeamRank standings. The Wolves started the season with resounding defeats of conference foes Internationals and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro, then earned draws with Shattuck St. Mary’s and newly ranked No. 22 St. Louis Scott Gallagher. Former No. 1 Real Salt Lake AZ drops to No. 2 after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of No. 5 LA Galaxy.

Florida teams in the Development Academy have performed well in the first month of the 2013-14 season, and that performance is reflected in this month’s update. Weston FC was already highly-ranked at No. 10, but moves up one spot to No. 9 following wins against three of the four North Carolina teams. Kendall SC leads the DA’s Southeast division with an undefeated 5-0 record and debuts at No. 18, but will have to face Grande TeamRank No. 25 and fellow undefeated Orlando City on October 12. O-City’s  balanced attack, with nine players on the scoresheet, and a stalwart defense that has allowed goals in only one out of four games, will make it difficult for Kendall to remain perfect.

NASA climbs, LA Premier debuts at U17

North Atlanta SA 15 Elite climbs from No. 19 to No. 15 with this update following a stellar start to regional league play in the southeast. The season has just begun, but the club that produced a US Youth Soccer National Championship on the girls’ side in the U19 age group last year, may have another contender on its hands, this year on the boys’ side. NASA remains undefeated in the Region III Premier League East and Southern Premier League play, but will face last year’s USYS national runner up in a match that will count towards both seasons’ standings, and may determine who gets that bid to the USYS national championship.

LA Premier FC leads the competitive Coast Soccer League Premier Division and already has results against some of the top teams in SoCal:  wins over No. 3 FC Golden State Diamond, and No. 14 Carlsbad Elite, and a draw with No. 5 Fullerton Rangers White. Though not a member of the prestigious USYS National League, LA Premier should prove to be a contender in the post-season next summer through the CalSouth National Cup and the WCDA.

Real Salt Lake AZ new No. 1 at U18

The reigning national champion at the U16 age group didn’t take long to take over the top spot at U18. Real Salt Lake AZ is perfect on the road in the Southwest Division, with the highlight of the road trip a 3-1 defeat of No. 8 LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on goals by Jack Gayton, Jose Hernandez, and Niki Jackson. RSL will return home on October 27, but will have to get past No. 25 Real So Cal to remain in command of the standings.

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Girls

Grande 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.