As Elite 64 boys teams across the country reach the heart of the Spring 2023 season, many of the races for the top of the standings are intensifying. With Elite 64 sides contending for spots in the top pools of the Elite 64 National Finals, there are important points on the line from coast to coast.
Take a look at which boys clubs and teams have positioned themselves well through the fall and winter months of the 2022-23 Elite 64 season:
Northeast | Southeast | South | Great Lakes | Midwest | Desert | Pacific | Northwest | National Events
NORTHEAST
Following the fall high school soccer season, the 15U through 19U age groups are just beginning their league seasons in the Northeast, while the 13U and 14U age groups have completed about half their Elite 64 games. In those younger age groups, STA sits atop both sets of standings. STA 10B has secured points from several close games, while the club’s 2009 team has six wins and three ties from its first nine games.
PDA has also had a strong start as a club, with five total teams in the top half of their respective standings. The 16U and 19U teams from PDA are each in first place in their groups after playing three games, while the 17U side is currently in second place.
Princeton SA is also off to a strong start across several age groups, led by its 2006 side that has started 3-0-0 to pace the 17U age group. The 13U, 15U and 16U age groups all Princeton in second place, with just a few goals separating those teams from the top spot.
The 15U age group is led by Cedar Stars Academy 08B, which is off to a 2-0-0 start. Cedar Stars also has a couple teams — its 14U and 19U sides — in second place as they head into the busy spring schedule.
SOUTHEAST
Game totals vary across the Southeast, but many teams have reached their halfway point. As a club, United FA has played a majority of its games and made the most of its opportunities. The Georgia club has three teams at the top of their standings — leading the 13U, 15U and 16U age groups — to go along with two teams currently in second place.
Southern Soccer Academy has also had a strong showing to this point, and it’s led by its 14U side that is off to an undefeated start to the year and in first place. SSA’s 13U and 16U teams are in second place, and it also has a couple teams in that are sitting in third place.
AFC Lightning (17U) and IMG Academy (19U) each have one team in first place, while Charlotte SA’s 19U side is undefeated and in second place — one point back of IMG — with plenty of games left to play.
SOUTH
Two clubs are mainstays near the top of the standings in the South after the fall and winter months. Lobos Rush leads the group with three teams in first place, as its teams are on top of the 13U, 14U and 17U age groups. Its 14U side is off to an especially strong start, as it’s 9-0-0. Lobos is also in second place in the 15U and 16U age groups, as all of its teams are in contention for making the top pool at the Elite 64 National Finals.
El Paso Locomotive joins Lobos at the top of many of the South standings. El Paso leads the 15U and 19U age groups, and its teams are in second place in the 13U and 14U age groups. Locomotive’s 16U and 17U teams are each in third place, with games in hand that could allow them to move up the standings.
Tigres San Antonio occupies a pair of the remaining Top 2 spots across all the age groups, as its 16U team has a narrow lead atop the standings and its 17U team is in second place.
GREAT LAKES
The Great Lakes group has been busy since November, and many teams still have at least half their games remaining. Cincinnati United has enjoyed an all-around strong start as a club through its first half of the schedule, as the Ohio club is in the Top 3 of each set of standings — including four teams in first place. Each of the 15U-19U age groups have Cincinnati United at the top, with three of the teams still unbeaten.
With one first-place team and a pair of teams currently in second, Ohio Galaxies FC is also off to a successful start to its Elite 64 season. Galaxies’ 2010 side is 7-0-0 in the 13U age group and will look to continue that momentum when it starts its spring slate of games later this month. Michigan Tigers are just three points back of the Galaxies and own the 13U age group’s most potent offense, averaging over four goals per game.
Four points from two recent games helped Liverpool FC-IA Michigan 09B extend its lead atop the 14U age group. And despite no current first-place sides, Indiana Fire Academy has also had a good overall showing — with two teams currently in second place and another pair sitting in third place.
MIDWEST
The boys clubs in the Midwest are all still in the early stages of their Elite 64 schedules, and the next couple of months will be filled with exciting matchups that influence the final standings.
The early portions of the season have resulted in Toca FC having a team on top of four of the six age groups. The club’s 13U and 15U sides are each 4-0-0, while the 16U team has three wins and a draw. With much the season remaining, Toca will have work to do to maintain those places atop the standings.
The 14U and 19U age groups are led by Libertyville FC 1974 and Sporting Blue Valley, respectively. Each club also has a couple additional teams in the Top 3 of their age groups.
Meanwhile, several of Galaxy SC’s teams have games in hand on their group leaders, yet the club has four teams that are currently in second place. The extra games could help the Galaxy sides make moves into the Top 2 as the season progresses.
DESERT
There is a common theme at the top of many of the Desert standings, as Sparta United currently occupies first place in five of the six age groups and second place in the remaining age group. Sparta has benefited from a busier early schedule, but the Utah club has taken advantage of its opportunities while securing a majority of available points. Four of Sparta’s teams are unbeaten and have proved they deserve an early place atop the tables.
Utah Soccer Alliance isn’t far behind Sparta, as it has five teams in the Top 2 of their respective standings. Utah SA 04/05B is in first place in the 19U age group after a 9-0-1 start, and its teams are behind only Sparta in the 13U, 14U, 16U and 17U age groups.
The lone remaining spot in the current Top 2 is held by Colorado Rapids Youth SC, whose 15U side is 4-1-0 and in position to challenge Sparta if it can take advantage of its games in hand.
PACIFIC
With many teams approaching the halfway point of their Pacific campaign, Strikers FC North has produced the best start of any club. Strikers currently has three teams in first place — in the 15U, 16U and 17U age groups — while another two sides are in second place.
Two teams from Los Angeles Soccer Club have also stood out. The 14U side is in first place with a 6-0-1 record, and LASC’s 04/05 team has picked up 15 of 18 possible points to lead the 19U age group.
Legends FC has four teams in the top half of the tables, led by its 13U side that currently in first place. AYSO United features two second-place teams, while CDA Slammers has one team currently in second.
NORTHWEST
With all of its games played across all age groups, Oregon Premier FC completed a clean sweep of the age group titles in the Northwest. OPFC’s 14U and 19U teams won all of their games to pick up the maximum possible points, while its 15U side tied twice in an unbeaten season. Across all age group, OPFC averaged just over 2.5 goals per game, while conceded just below 0.5 goals per game.
With some games left to play in all age group, Boise Timbers|Thorns currently has two teams in second place, and another four in third place. With success in its remaining games, Boise could potentially finish with five total runners-up.
Idaho Rush SC is in contention for some of those second-place spots, with two teams currently in second and another pair in third place. Valor Soccer also currently occupies two second-place positions.
NATIONAL EVENTS
Elite 64 teams have had the opportunity to play matches outside of their regular season groups while competing at national events during the fall and winter. Take a look at the clubs that have secured the most points per game from all games played across the events in Round Rock, Orlando, Mesa and Tampa. The list below features clubs that have combined for at least nine games played during national events.
