American soccer has seen a proliferation of big-money youth clubs in recent years. But just how good are they? Soccer America selects the top 20 boys and girls clubs based on three categories: (1) success in U.S. Youth Soccer championships since 2001; (2) the number of players who went on to national and regional teams last year; and (3) a survey of college coaches on the best clubs at developing and showcasing players.
America's best youth clubs are sending boys as young as 14 to U.S. Soccer's residency program. Older youth players are skipping college ball and moving directly to the pros, not only to clubs in MLS but also in the English Premier League.
Soccer America Top 20 Boys Soccer Clubs
1. FC DELCO. Philadelphia area club won 2003 McGuire Cup title, third U-19 title in four years and seventh U.S. Youth Soccer title. Players have come from across Pennsylvania – Ben Olsen hailed from Harrisburg area – and as far away as Rhode Island and Maryland. Rising Star: Ryan Soroka, a star on U.S. U-17 '88 national team.
2. CHICAGO MAGIC. Mike Matkovich's club, based in suburban Frankfort, had four players enter the U-17 residency program last fall. Magic U-17s were 2003 national champions. Its U-14s and U-15s won titles at the 2003 Super Y-League championships. Rising Star: Quavas Kirk, a top forward prospect on rising U-17 national team.
3. IRVINE STRIKERS. Former U.S. Olympic team striker Don Ebert has headed up Southern California program for 11 years. U-17s won national title in 2002 and U-15s were third in 2003. Most famous grad is MLS teen Guillermo Gonzalez. Rising Star: Joel Smith, considered one of the top '88 sweepers in the country.
4. CASL ELITE. Based in Raleigh, N.C., the Capital Area Soccer League operates elite youth program, as well as amateur team in the Premier Development League. CASL Elite won its first national title, taking 2003 U-14 division with late comeback. Rising Star: Brett King was one of four 14-year-old players to recently enter U-17 residency.
5. CONCORDE FIRE. Formed in April 2003 following the merger of the Concorde Soccer Association and Atlanta Fire. Six players on Atlanta club were named all-stars at 2003 adidas ESP camp. Won national title (U-16) in 2002 and had two regional finalists in 2003. Rising Star: Jeff Scannella, promising defender in U-17 residency.
6. LA JOLLA NOMADS. One of the oldest youth clubs in California. San Diego area club won its fifth national title in 2002, taking U-14 competition. Three Nomads – twins Gabriel and Michael Farfan and Eric Avila – entered U-17 residency in September. Rising Star: Cheezi Meltz, 13-year-old midfielder born in South Africa.
7. DALLAS TEXANS. Top choice of college coaches for showcasing and developing players for next level. Teams have captured three U.S. Youth Soccer titles (1994, 2001 and 2002). Only club with boys and girls programs ranked in top 10. Rising Star: Jonathan Villanueva, outstanding midfield prospect in U-17 residency program.
8. FC SOCKERS. Three U-17s at Chicago club turned pro in last six months: Michael Bradley (MetroStars), Jonathan Spector (Manchester United) and Will Johnson (Blackburn). Mike Stephens and Cesar Nunez, both 14, entered U.S. Soccer's residency program. Rising Star: Mike Stephens, who played up with U.S. U-17s in December.
9. HOUSTON TEXANS. The first club to win U-18 and U-19 national cups in consecutive years (2001-02). Its U-18 and U-16 teams were outstanding at last fall's Nike Friendlies in Florida. U-16s won Tampa Bay Sun Bowl weeks later. Rising Star: Takato Ban, Furman-bound midfielder who stood out at the Nike Friendlies.
10. SO CAL UNITED. Won its first national title when Alberto Bru's U-16s captured Niotis Cup last summer. Bru's U-17s and U-13s both won League Cup titles in the Coast Soccer League in the fall. Five U-17s represented Region IX at Disney's Soccer Showcase. Rising Star: UCLA-bound Greg Folk, in his second semester of U-17 residency.
11. SERENO GOLDEN EAGLES. Had three teams (U-17s, U-15s and U-14s) reach 2003 Region IV title game. Former Santa Clara coach Mitch Murray is one of seven full-time coaches. Based in North Phoenix but recruits from all over Arizona. Rising star: Giuseppe Carotenuto, who shone on recent U.S. U-15s' trip to Guadalajara.
12. COLORADO RUSH. Formed in 1997 following merger of two local clubs, the Rush services over 5,500 players. Four Rush Nike teams reached West youth finals in the last three years. U-19s finished third at 2003 nationals. Rising star: Conrad Taylor, headed to Penn State, won Bronze Glove keeper award at 2003 adidas ESP camp.
13. MICHIGAN WOLVES. Launched in 1974 thanks to support of Livonia Family YMCA. Won two boys national titles (1990 and 2003). Girls program (Hawks) has three titles. Wolves' U-18 boys captured seventh straight state title last fall. Rising star: Billy Weaver, 16th Wolves/Hawks player to win Michigan's Mr. Soccer prep award.
14. VARDAR. Michigan club formed in 1983 and named after Macedonian club Vardar Skopje. Won three national titles in the 1990s and produced Columbus Crew veterans Brian Maisonneuve and Mike Clark. Rising Star: Matthew Walker, first 14-year-old goalie to enter U.S. residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
15. PDA. New Jersey's Players Development Academy opened in 1999. Most of its boys teams are named after famous players (Socrates, Platini, Dalglish, etc.). Phil Marfuggi started in U.S. goal at the 2003 U-17 World Cup. Rising Star: Angelo Amato, high school junior who was one of the top defenders at the 2003 adidas ESP camp.
16. WEST KENDALL OPTIMIST. Community program located in southwestern Miami sent eight players to last summer's adidas ESP camp, more than any other club in the country. Won 2003 Super Y-League's U-17 championship. Rising Star: Danny Vazquez, 5-foot-5 midfielder who was the MVP at the ESP camp and is headed to SMU.
17. SCOTT GALLAGHER. World Cup players Brian McBride, Steve Trittschuh and Mike Sorber are among nine U.S. internationals from St. Louis club. It won the first of three McGuire Cup championships in 1981. Its most recent national title (U-18) came in 2000. Rising star: Keeper Nick Frasca, adidas ESP camp all-star in 2003.
18. OAKWOOD. Club is the outgrowth of an indoor center started in 1980 at a Connecticut racquet club. Now has seven outdoor fields, in addition to indoor center. Two Oakwood teams lost regional finals in overtime last summer. Rising Star: Pat Phelan, Wake Forest-bound defender and standout on last year's U.S. under-18 national team.
19. SOLAR. The second oldest youth club in the Dallas area. Many of its coaches are former Dallas Sidekicks players. Forward Kenny Cooper joined Manchester United's reserves from Solar last summer. Has one of country's best U-15 teams. Rising Star: Cameron Brown, high school freshman who went on U.S. U-15s' Guadalajara trip.
20. BETHESDA/POTOMAC COUGARS (tie). Freddy Adu won U-14 nationals with Cougars in 2001 before team joined Maryland rival Bethesda. U-17 Bethesda Internationals went unbeaten at 2003 Nike Friendlies; two more Cougars have entered Bradenton residency. Rising Stars: Rich Edgar (Potomac) and Joshua Zipin (Bethesda).
Soccer America Top 20 Girls Soccer Clubs
The first national championship for girls wasn't held until 1980, but girls club soccer has taken off in recent years. Six of the top eight clubs in the girls Top 20 also ranked in the boys Top 20. California led all states with five girls Top 20 clubs.
1. BETHESDA. Maryland club has won one national and five regional titles since 2001. Excel has three players – Megan Holmes, Amanda Poach and Hayley Siegel – on U-17 national team. Ranked No. 1 by college coaches for developing and showcasing talent. Rising Star: Amanda Poach, who won Golden Boot at 2003 U-16 nationals.
2. SAN DIEGO SURF. Three Surf collegians – Rachel Buehler (Stanford), Carrie Schmit (Texas) and Angela Woznuk (Portland) – play with U.S. U-19s. Club won 2002 U-19 national title and 2003 U-16 title, beating Bethesda in shootout in final. Also finished second in 2001 U-18 cup. Rising Star: Carrie Dew, 2003 Youth All-American.
3. PDA. Best known as program from which Heather O'Reilly graduated. ''PDA has some college coaches, and that helps them there,'' says one college coach. Had three players on 2003 national champion Wildcats team at recent U-17 national camp. Rising Star: Virginia-bound Jen Redmond, U.S. U-19 midfielder whose sister Elizabeth is on U-17s.
4. SERENO GOLDEN EAGLES. Put Arizona girls soccer on the map in 2003 with U-17 national champ and U-15 runner-up. Had six girls teams reach West finals in the last two years. Boys program is also a Top 20 club. Rising Star: Jessica McDonald, U-17 national team forward whose brother played on boys U-17 national team in 2002.
5. DALLAS TEXANS. Won first U.S. Youth Soccer title in 2003 when U-18 Texans Red claimed championship. Currently has players on the U.S. U-19, U-17 and U-16 national teams. Only club program to rank in top 10 for boys and girls. Rising Star: Kerri Hanks, U-19 star who scored both goals in Texans' victory in 2003 under-18 national final.
6. LAGUNA HILLS ECLIPSE. One of several powerhouses in Southern California's Orange County. Won 2002 U-15 national championship. Four players from Eclipse White are on U.S. U-17 national team: Kiara Bosio, Courtney Lewis, Kasey Moore, Amy Rodriguez. Rising Star: Kasey Moore, defender who won Golden Boot at the 2002 nationals.
7. COLORADO RUSH. Won back-to-back U-17 national titles in 1998 and 1999 and back-to-back U-19 titles in 2000 and 2001. Has six national titles overall. Ex-MLS star Paul Bravo coaches Rush Nike U-18s as well as works with Colorado Rapids as assistant. Rising Star: Caroline Lea, Cal-bound forward who joined team from rival CGSA.
8. MICHIGAN HAWKS. Won three national girls titles (1989, 1991 and 2001). Produced current U.S. national team stars Kate (Sobrero) Markgraf and Lindsay Tarpley. Hawk teams won five state titles last fall, including seventh in a row for the U-18s. Rising Star: Erin Doan, high school senior who played on U.S. U-17 team in 2003.
9. PLEASANTON RAGE. Had five players on Soccer America's Top 25 college recruits for 2003. Julia Schnugg, part of Northern California club's same senior class, plays for U.S. U-19s. Frenchman Philippe Blin is technical director. Santa Clara coach Jerry Smith is technical advisor. Rising Star: Lizzy George, midfielder with 1510 SATs.
10. BUSCH. St. Louis club was founded in '70s as boys select club. Added girls soccer in '80s. Won two regional titles in 2001 (U-19 and U-15) and 2002 (U-18 and U-16). Rising Star: Ashlee Pistorius, U.S. U-19 star who had 153 goals (soccer) and 1,566 points (basketball) going into senior year and committed to play both sports at Texas A&M.
11. SLAMMERS FC. Another powerhouse from Southern California's Orange County. Newport Beach club is only club to win girls national titles in 2002 and 2003, capturing U-14 crown both years. Won three 2003 League Cup titles in tough Coast Soccer League. Rising Star: Alexa Orand, only high school sophomore on U-19 national team.
12. CHALLENGE. Houston area girls program whose Texas Shootout showcase event draws more than 300 college coaches each June. Also hosts fall college weekend. Won two regional titles in 2002 and one in 2001. Rising Star: Amber Gnatzig, U-16 national team midfielder who scored for Challenge in 2003 U-15 regional final loss.
13. CARMEL UNITED. CUSC was formed in 1995 following merger of three clubs from Indianapolis suburb and merged with Indianapolis Inferno in 1999. Cosmos was U-17 national runner-up in 2000; Commotion reached U-17 final in 2003. Rising Star: Lauren Cheney, who scored in all three games at U-17 Interregionals in November.
14. HBC. Oldest club among the Top 20 girls programs. Founded in 1961, Huntington, N.Y., club has more than 1,000 boys and girls. Two HBC teams won their age group at regionals in 2001 and 2002. Rising star: Lorraine Quinn, U-19 national team midfielder who joined Fury after playing on Queens club Blau Weiss Gottschee's boys team.
15. GWINNETT SA. Atlanta area club's '85 Phoenix Red won 2001 U-16 national title and 2002 U-17 regional crown. Teams won three state titles in 2001 and two in 2002. '89 Phoenix Red was 2003 Region III Premier League champion with 8-0-1 record. Rising star: Caitlan Dingle, high school junior who scored 138 goals in two prep seasons.
16. COLORADO GSA. Formed after splitting off from Rush Nike girls program. Won 2002 U-18 national title and tied for third in the 2003 U-18 cup. Jeff Hooker, the 1984 U.S. Olympian and University of Denver women's coach, is academy's director of coaching. Rising star: Nicole DeLue, one of Colorado's top underclassmen.
17. SC BLUES. Girls program added five years after women's team was started in 1985. Club based in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., had two national runners-up in 2001. Won five 2003 Coast Soccer League League Cup titles, including U-9s, in which Blues had both teams in the final. Rising Star: Kristina Larsen, 2003 Youth All-American.
18. D'FEETERS. Founded in 1978, Dallas area club won the U-19 national title four years later. Has sent eight teams to the nationals, most recently the '84 team in the 2001 U-17 cup. Plays in tough Lake Highlands Girls Classic League. Rising Star: Kelsey Carpenter, the 2003 Dallas Morning News Girls High School Player of the Year.
19. ECLIPSE SELECT. Chicago area club won two regional titles in 2003 and three age groups in last fall's Midwest Regional League. Sponsors U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams as feeders into the Chicago Cobras' W-league team. Rising Star: Brittany Bock, who captained the U.S. and was MVP at 2003 U-16 Ballymena Tournament in Northern Ireland.
20. DALLAS STING. Winner of five of the first nine U-19 girls national titles. Former indoor star Tatu works with the U-17 team that should contend for 2004 national title. Club has a training complex in Richardson and is building a new facility in Tarrant County. Rising Star: Anne Candee, who scored three goals in 2003 U-16 nationals.
by Soccer America Magazine Editors