Grande Sports Academy TeamRank update

Grande Sports Academy TeamRank update
by Caroline Yort
May 29, 2014

 

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.

(scroll down for system details)

FC Dallas nears the top at U16

MLS academy FC Dallas continues to shine at this age group, even after clinching a playoff berth more than a month ago. Led by class of 2015 IMG Academy 150 standouts Martin Salas and Christian Ramirez, and even without the help of 2016s Weston McKinnie and Alejandro Zendejas who are in residency with the U17 MNT, FC Dallas hasn’t lost a match since Christmas, amassing a record of 16-2-6 in the process, good enough for a climb to No. 2 in our rankings.

Pateadores continues its rise this month up five spots to No. 13. Five wins in May, including an impressive 1-0 defeat of RSL-AZ, gives the Pats the top wildcard spot for the postseason with one match to play.

Smithtown Kickers falter, but stay No. 1 at U17

Massapequa SC Celtic found a chink in the armor of the 2013 US Youth Soccer national champion, defeating Smithtown Kickers in group play at the USYS New York-E state cup. The team from Long Island retains the top spot in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25, however, since it still has the best record in the country in this age group, having won the Region I Premier League earlier this month and finishing first in the USYS National League’s red division. The Region I championships and the USYS national championships will prove if Massapequa’s finding was a fluke or the end of a magnificent run for the Kickers.

Fullerton Rangers White climbs to No. 2 after defeating now No. 3 West Coast FC in the finals of the CalSouth National Cup. WCFC will still head to the Region IV championships later this month, having secured a spot via the newly formed Cal Regional League.

New No. 1 at U18

New to the Development Academy, but not shaken by the level of the competition this season, Bethesda-Olney has accumulated the best record in the nation in this age group, and with only three matches remaining, is likely to finish the regular season as the top seed for the playoffs. Bethesda-Olney has spent all year in the top five, but finally lands at the top spot in the Grande Sports Academy TeamRank Top 25 this month. TopDrawerSoccer as much as predicted this climb last fall, noting that the merger of OBGC and Bethesda SC would result in a mix of talent difficult for opponents to handle.

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.

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IMG Academy Top 150 Rankings
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Boys Girls