Today we unveil our latest update to TeamRank, the comprehensive ranking system for elite club soccer teams nationwide. This week, 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.

(scroll down for system details)

So Cal Blues “Eclipses” #1 at U16

As predicted last month, So Cal Blues takes over the top spot this month in the TeamRank Top 25. The only undefeated team remaining in this age group didn’t concede a goal the entire month of April, but will have get past #21 Slammers and #9 West Coast FC in conference play, as well as #14 FC Stars of Massachusetts and #25 Carmel United at the PDA Showcase in order to finish the regular season without a loss.

Take note of #18 Kings Hammer Academy Red. The Cincinnati-based team leads the Midwest Regional League’s Premier Division and has already qualified for the US Youth Soccer National Championships via a second place finish in the blue division of the USYS National League. The team had an impressive showing at last month’s Blue Chip Showcase, and with the help of the quick-footed and driven midfielder Lauren Nemeroff, this team is likely to do well in the postseason.

PDA new #1 at U17

With a near perfect 13-0-3 overall record and only two goals against all season, PDA ECNL takes over #1 in the TeamRank Top 25. There is a lot of soccer left to play for the New Jersey-based squad, but unless someone can figure out how to get past goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, a Syracuse commit and #88 in the IMG Academy 150, PDA is likely to enter the Champions League playoffs in June as the overall top seed.

SC Del Sol ECNL remains undefeated in Mountain West Conference play and climbs from #10 to #6 in our rankings with this update. LSU commit Jorian Baucom continues to dominate in the final third, having scored 19 of the team’s 39 goals this season.

It pays to play at U18

CASL Chelsea ECNL retains the top spot in the TeamRank Top 25 this month, but it is one of only three teams in the entire top 25 to keep its ranking while idle (#13 Carolina Elite SA and #17 Sporting Blue Valley are the others). Teams that keep playing and climbing above their competition in their wake include #2 OP Eagles, #8 TSC Hurricane, and #14 PDA. OP Eagles have three weekends of games left with six matches on the docket before their postseason seed is secure, but if the playoffs were held today, Chris King’s squad out of Dublin, Ohio would hold the overall top spot. With one game remaining in the regular season, TSC Hurricane has already qualified for the 16-team National Finals in June, while PDA will look to win two of its last four matches in order to extend its season. 

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

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.