Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy 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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While the U17 age group is taking a break from National League play (which resumes in March) and gearing up for regional play in the spring season, there are some notable changes in the other two age groups.

Weston back into Top 10 at U16

Miami based Weston FC keeps hovering around the top 10, and taking the opportunity to score some tallies in the win column while other teams in the country are shoveling snow. The most notable of those took place on January 25 when Weston took a 3-0 lead on previous No. 10 Orlando City thanks to a hat trick from forward Tomas Garcia-Morillo. Orlando City pulled a couple back in the waning minutes of the match, but current No. 10 Weston went on to win and has taken over the top spot in the Development Academy’s Southeast Division. Garcia-Morillo, a junior, is in his first year in the Development Academy, having transferred from US Youth Soccer National League squad SAA Real Madrid, and already has seven goals on the season.

 Light schedule, small changes at U18

With all but the southern portions of the country in this age group waiting for warmer weather, most of the rankings remain the same this month, with a few exceptions. No. 6 Capital Area Railhawks posted two conference wins in the month of January and are inching closer to the top of the Development Academy Southeast Division as well as the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. Craig Conger’s No. 13 Carolina Rapids posted two conference wins as well, and with only three points separating these two clubs, every match will be important for the Rapids to keep the top spot in the conference.

Chivas USA posted a win and a draw in January to retain third place in the Southwest Division and ticks up a notch in our standings from No. 24 to No. 23. Chivas will face some tough non-conference competition in February when it hosts No. 15 Crossfire and No. 16 Vancouver Whitecaps.

 

Next Thursday: U16, U17, and U18 Girls

Grande Sports Academy 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.