Expect to see fireworks on and around the island of Manhattan this year, with the Metropolitan Conference featuring four teams in top ten—and three in the top five— entering the season. After finishing at No. 3 to end 2024, FC Dayon is once again the team to beat in the East, with Clarkstown Soccer Club, fresh off its WPSL Championships Semifinal appearance, and the newest member of the Metropolitan Conference, in the No. 2 spot. East Regional Finalist, Reading United A.C. rounds out the top five as it looks to pick up where it left off with last season’s late surge into the postseason.
Rankings are compiled by Canadian-based RankR, featuring the Elo Ranking System, based on record, goals for and against, match location, relative strength of opponent, and playoff matches. To avoid any subjective or biased influence, human voting is not part of the Elo Ranking System process.
The next round of rankings will be published the week of May 19-23 after the second match week has concluded, then will be released weekly through the duration of the regular season.
Preseason - May 8, 2025
1 FC DAYTON
Great Lakes Conference – Great River Division
2025 National Preseason Rank: 2
2024 Record: 9-1-0
2024 Finish: First - Gateway Division
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 1-Week Five / 1-Weeks Three-Five
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 3/2
Opening Match: Sunday, May 18 @ (UR/8) Columbus Eagles FC
2 CLARKSTOWN SOCCER CLUB
Metropolitan Conference
2025 National Preseason Rank: 4
2024 Record: 10-0-1
2024 Finish: WPSL National Championships Semifinal
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 2-Final Regular Season / 1-Week Four-Final Regular Season
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 2/1
Opening Match: Saturday, May 31 @ (UR/9)SUSA FC
3 DOWNTOWN UNITED SOCCER CLUB
Metropolitan Conference
2025 National Preseason Rank: 10
2024 Record: 6-1-1
2024 Finish: Second - Metropolitan Conference
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 11-Preseason / 2-Week Seven
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 13/3
Opening Match: Wednesday, May 28 @ Brooklyn City F.C.
4 STA
Metropolitan Conference
2025 National Preseason Rank: 16
2024 Record: 6-1-1
2024 Finish: Third - Metropolitan Conference
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 18-Week Eight / 4-Week Eight, Final
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 19/4
Opening Match: Friday, May 30 @ Force FC New York
5 READING UNITED A.C.
Mid-Atlantic Conference – Commonwealth Division
2025 National Preseason Rank: 17
2024 Record: 6-2-2
2024 Finish: East Region Final
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 9-Week 3 / 2-Week Five
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 24/6
Opening Match: Friday, May 23 vs. Hershey FC
6 PA CLASSICS
Mid-Atlantic Conference – Commonwealth Division
2025 National Preseason Rank: 17
2024 Record: 6-2-2
2024 Finish: East Region Final
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 9-Week 3 / 2-Week Five
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): 24/6
Opening Match: Friday, May 23 vs. Hershey FC
7 PENN FUSION SA
Mid-Atlantic Conference – Colonial Division
2025 National Preseason Rank: Unranked
2024 Record: 6-3-1
2024 Finish: First – Colonial Division
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 14-Preseason / 5-Week 5
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): Unranked/8
Opening Match: Wednesday, May 21 @ Real Central NJ
8 COLUMBUS EAGLES FC
Great Lakes Conference – Great River Division
2025 National Preseason Rank: Unranked
2024 Record: 5-2-1
2024 Finish: Second – Great River Division
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 12-Week Six / 2-Week Four, Six
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): Unranked/9
Opening Match: Sunday, May 18 vs. (2/1) FC Dayton
9 SUSA FC
Metropolitan Conference
2025 National Preseason Rank: Unranked
2024 Record: 7-0-1
2024 Finish: East Region Semifinal
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 16-Week Seven / 5-Week Seven
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): Unranked/7
Opening Match: Saturday, May 31 vs. (4/2) Clarkston Soccer Club
10 RI ROGUES FC
Northeastern Conference
2025 National Preseason Rank: Unranked
2024 Record: 5-1-2
2024 Finish: Second – Northeastern Conference
2024 High Ranking (National/Region): 1-Week 1 & 2 / 1-Week 1 & 2, Three
2024 Final Regular Season Ranking (National/Region): Unranked/10
Opening Match: Saturday, May 17 @ Sporting CT