Today we unveil our latest update to 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. The final standings for the 2012-13 season will be published the first of August.

(scroll down for system details)

#1 seed falls (again) at U16

The curse of the #1 seed reared its ugly head again at the Development Academy playoffs. Just as Charlotte Soccer Academy in the 2010-11 season, and PDA in the 2011-12 season, New York Red Bulls entered the playoffs as the overall #1 seed only to be ousted by Houston Dynamo phenom Elochukwu Ozumba’s two goals in the Texas heat on the final day of play, and drops from #1 to #4 in our standings.

The top three in this month’s standings each went 3-0 at the playoffs, and will head to Finals Week in Houston later in July. Solar SC takes over the top spot, with Houston Dynamo at #2 and Crew Soccer Academy Wolves landing at #3.

Top 5 headed to Nats at U17

There is quite a battle brewing for the title of US Youth Soccer National Champion. OBGC Rangers continue at #1 this month after capturing the Region I crown, but #2 CUP Crew Juniors Gold are nipping at their heels, and #3 Santa Clara Sporting Green isn’t far behind.  CUP took the Region II title convincingly, winning the final 6-0 over SC Waukesha Blue, with Cincinnati commit Jack Clark providing five goals during the tournament. SC Sporting’s hopes of a trip to Kansas were almost dashed by Fram in group play at the Region IV Championships, but Sporting rallied in the knockout rounds to keep its season alive.

St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri upsets at U18, qualifies for Finals Week

A late goal in each game was the difference for SLSG to qualify for its second consecutive Finals Week and debut in our standings at #16.

Last year, SLSG qualified for the Development Academy playoffs as the top seed in the Frontier Division at the U16 age group, making it all the way to final match against New York Red Bulls, but this year was quite a different story. Entering the playoffs in sixth place in the Mid-America division and the ninth wildcard, the Missouri-based squad led by Austin Panchot and Mark Segbers was clearly an underdog.  But with a win against Real Salt Lake in the first match thanks to Segbers’ 90th minute goal, followed by draws against DC United and CASL thanks to late goals by Jeffrey Hopson and Austin Ledbetter, SLSG moves on to Finals Week yet again.

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Girls

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