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.

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Northeast on the move at U16

East Meadow SC ECNL and Match Fit Academy ECNL are barely midway through their respective regular seasons, but each leads its division as the two head to the San Diego Showcase this weekend.

East Meadow climbed to the top of the New England Division with three wins in the month of March. Forward Erin Gilroy, the team’s leading scorer, provided virtually all of the offense in the effort, and despite a recent loss to Northeast Conference opponent FC Bucks, East Meadow moves up a couple of spots to No. 19 in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25.

Fellow Northeast Conference squad Match Fit Academy didn’t have the greatest of starts to its ECNL season, falling to FC Virginia and Atlanta Fire at the Florida showcase. But Match Fit has kicked off conference play with a 5-0-1 record, including wins over No. 12 FC Bucks and No. 11 PDA. Match Fit leads the Metro Division and enters our rankings at No. 18.

Northwest on the rise at U17

Mustang SC headed back into ECNL play the last weekend in March and continued its unbeaten run in the Northwest Conference, climbing to No. 11 in our rankings in the process. The NorCal Division leader heads to San Diego with only eight goals against all season, thanks to the shared goalkeeping duties of Leah Emerson and Taylor Winters. That statistic will certainly be tested on Sunday when they face No. 12 So Cal Blues, the most prolific in the ECNL with 58 goals on the season.

Washington Premier, which climbs from No. 14 to No. 10 this month, will also be tested in San Diego by No. 9 Slammers. Seth Spidahl’s squad, like Mustang, is undefeated in divisional play, and April 26’s inter-conference match between the two undefeated squads will likely be a battle for bragging rights in the Northwest Conference.

Battle of Virginia at U18

It’s gearing up to be an interesting US Youth Soccer postseason in the nation’s capital. Top Virginia teams No. 20 Braddock Road YC and No. 24 Richmond Kickers have already met four times this season, with the Kickers currently holding a 3-1 advantage which includes a Virginia State Cup title. However, BRYC holds the trump card, with an invitation to USYS Nationals already in hand via its recent National League Red Division championship.

Cleveland’s Internationals FC ECNL breaks the top ten this month at No. 7, with IMG Academy 150 standout and U20 Women’s National Team member Emily Ogle’s 16 goals leading the way. Internationals’ only loss this season was back in December, and the team has given up a mere three goals in nine matches.

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.