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USL News Release

Monday, December 4, 2006

TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced today the final Super Y-League First and Second 11 Club rankings for the 2006 season, recognizing the league’s top competitive and administrative clubs throughout the regular season and SYL North American Finals.

For the second consecutive season the Chicago Magic finished with the highest club ranking for the Super Y-League season. Out of the 63 clubs that met the minimum criteria for the overall table, the Magic are first with an overall score of 86.0. The club advanced a total of six teams to the 2006 Super Y-League North American Finals, winning championships in the U14B, U15B and U16G brackets.

The pair of boys championships finally moved the Magic into the top spot in the Boys First 11 table as well with a score of 87.0. Ranked third last year, the Magic were second in the preliminary rankings .5 behind the New York Red Bulls prior to the SYL North American Finals.

Mequon United finished second in the Overall First 11 with a score of 70.8. The club fielded two sides in the SYL North American Finals (U13B, U15B) in November.

Three big movers up the table from last year’s official ranking were the Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Westchester and Seacoast United. Vancouver jumped 10 spots to number 3, FC Westchester 17 spots to number 4 and Seacoast United remained in the First 11, moving from 10 to six.

Real So Cal was the lone club from the Southern California Division to qualify for the Overall table based on the minimum of three teams each in boys and girls competition. The Coast Soccer League club finished 10th in their debut in the rankings after winning the U15G SYL North American Championship last month.

Parsippany SC and Schulz Academy moved up the rankings with success at the SYL North American Finals with Parsippany moving from 11 to seven after a championship game appearance by its U17 Girls while Schulz jumped from 14 to eight with a three-peat championship by its U16 Boys. Schulz’ Miami rival Kendall also moved up the rankings from 18 to 11. The U14 Girls championship for Washington Crossfire put them into the top 22 in the 19th position.

Despite the change in name from the MetroStars, the success of the Red Bull New York youth system remained intact from 2005. The club finished first overall among boys clubs with a score of 81.5 in the preliminary rankings only to finish second to the Magic with a score of 84.0 after the SYL North American Finals. The two clubs actually squared off in the U14 Boys Championship match with Chicago coming away 2-1 victors.

Real So Cal of the Southern California Division made their debut at the number one spot in the Girls First 11 table with a score of 81.0 after claiming the U15 Girls SYL North American Championship (pictured).

The Magic remained second after winning the U16 Girls SYL North American Championship with a score of 74.6, surpassing CASL Elite, who sat atop the Girls table in the preliminary rankings.

United Soccer Leagues’ Super Y-League launched the new club ranking system in 2005 with the top clubs ranked from 1-22 and separated into the First and Second 11. This system publicizes the top 22 clubs in both the boys and girls categories as well as overall. The rankings are based primarily upon the on-field results with winning percentage accounting for 70 percent of the score. Minimum standards and operations account for the other 30 percent. Bonus points were awarded based on semifinal, finalist and championship results in the SYL North American Finals.

“The criteria used to rank these clubs is basic yet essential to the Super Y-League’s philosophy of providing a professionalized atmosphere for the top youth players in North America,” said Managing Director of Club Development Matt Weibe. “The Super Y-League wanted to salute those clubs who consistently succeed not only on the field but off the field as well.

View the First 11 Ranking tables >>