Today we unveil our latest update to Grande Sports Academy 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.

(scroll down for system details)

Crossfire climbs again at U16

The northwest conference was the only one with ranked teams in action in the month of January, and the matchup between divisional leaders Santa Rosa United and Crossfire ended with Crossfire earning yet another shutout. With a 5-0-1 overall record and only one goal against, Crossfire climbs to No. 6 in our standings.

The Texas showcase will provide some interesting matchups in this age group. Current No. 10 Santa Rosa United will face No. 1 Real Colorado on Saturday February 22. Real Colorado has not played a match since November and will be looking to shake off the icicles against a SRU squad that is on the rebound after that loss to Crossfire. Another top ten matchup will be No. 2 FC Bucks against No. 5 FC Dallas. FC Dallas had a rough month of December with a record of 0-2-2 and will look to get 2014 off on the right foot with a good performance at the showcase. No. 8 Michigan Hawks and No. 10 FC Virginia are additional teams with tough matches on the schedule.

Southeastern battle at U17

While No. 4 GSA is the runaway champion of the ECNL’s southeast conference, there is a heated battle for second between VSI West FL Flames and Charlotte Soccer Academy. The two met at the beginning of this month and CSA, led by IMG Academy 150 centerback Perry Zollicoffer, emerged with the win and the shutout. The victory also gave Charlotte Soccer Academy second place in the conference for the moment and No. 25 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25, though No. 22 VSI could reclaim the conference spot with a win against Orlando City this weekend.

No. 6 Michigan Hawks will have the toughest row to hoe at the showcase, facing No. 1 Dallas Sting, No. 4 GSA, and No. 10 McLean. All three matches will be highlights in this age group.

McLean edges up at U18

McLean ECNL takes over the top spot in the ECNL Chesapeake Division with a 3-0 victory over FC Virginia and climbs from No. 16 to No. 15 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25. CASL, on the other hand, falls to second in the division and drops a spot in the rankings to No. 6, but with only two matches remaining in the regular season, is still one of the few teams without a loss in the ECNL.

Next Thursday: U13, U14, and U15 Boys

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.