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.

(scroll down for system details)

Sockers FC climbs at U16

With six draws and five losses before Christmas break, the spring of Sockers FC’s first 10-month Development Academy season looked to be long and arduous. Since the break, however, #21 Sockers has figured out how to squeeze three points out of a game, thanks in part to four goals from Chris Mueller in the month of May alone, and is well on its way to an extended season.

Other teams faring well in May include FC Dallas, which climbs from third to first in the Frontier Division and #8 to #2 in our standings, and PDA which climbs from #13 to #4.

State Cup play key for U17s

The top four this month all finished state cup play on top, and will all head to US Youth Soccer regional championships later this summer. OBGC Rangers remain #1 after taking the Region I Premier League and Maryland US Youth Soccer State Cup crowns. #2 CUP Crew Juniors, #3 Santa Clara Sporting, and #4 West Coast FC won their respective state cups this past month as well.

New to the TeamRank Top 25 this month is #23 Blitz-Thunder United. After taking the Region III Premier League-West title last fall, but struggling through the Southern Premier League season, the Tulsa, OK-based team rolled through State Cup play last month scoring an average of 4 goals per game, including a 3-0 shutout of Norman Celtic in the final, and will head to the Oklahoma

Red Bulls back on top at U18

It didn’t take the New York Red Bulls long to regain the #1 potential seed for the Development Academy playoffs and the top spot in the TeamRank top 25. The Red Bulls rebounded from their 4-2 loss to New England Revolution in April with three straight conference wins, and only need two points out of the three remaining matches to secure first place in the Atlantic Division.

Shattuck St. Mary’s Academy followed up its 4-0 defeat of Indiana Fire Academy in April, with a 4-0 run in May, knocking #8 Indiana Fire off of its perch at the top of the Mid-America Division, and climbs from #14 to #7 with this update. Both teams have one game remaining in the regular season, and the results will determine the division’s final standings.

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.

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