The number of clubs accepted to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for its inaugural 2007-08 season has reached 47 with the addition of 16 clubs announced Monday. U.S. Soccer, which is launching the boys U-16 and U-18 league as an extension of its national team program, has reviewed more than 100 applications and announced "only a limited number of remaining spots are available" for the first season. Of the clubs accepted so far, 14 are ranked among Soccer America Magazine's 2007 Top 20 Boys Clubs. The latest group of clubs to be accepted includes California's Arsenal SC (No. 3 in Soccer America rankings) and Irvine Strikers (16), Missouri's Scott Gallagher (8) and Florida's Schulz Academy (19).

Rounding out Monday's 16 additions are:
AFC Lightning Soccer Club (Ga.)
Birmingham United Soccer Association (Ala.)
Carmel United SC (Ind.)
Empire United Soccer Academy (N.Y.)
FC Milwaukee (Wis.)
FC Portland Soccer Academy (Ore.)
Internationals SC (Ohio)
Metro United SC (Ill.)
Metropolitan Oval Foundation, Inc. (N.Y.)
North Meck SC (N.C.)
Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (Ohio)
PA Classics (Pa.)
Schulz Academy (Fla.).


"With only a few weeks remaining in the application window, we encourage interested clubs to send in their applications for review," said U.S. Soccer's Director of Coaching Education Bob Jenkins. "The selection process thus far has been very intense and will only increase in the final weeks."

Teams in bold in the 2007 Soccer America Top 20 Boys Clubs rankings below have been accepted into the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
RANK/TEAM (STATE)
1 Chicago Magic (Ill.)
2 Dallas Texans (Texas)
3 Arsenal FC (Calif.)
4 Real So Cal (Calif.)
5 Sockers FC (Ill.)
6 FC Delco (Pa.)
7 Baltimore Bays (Md.)
8 Scott Gallagher (Mo.)
9 Vardar Stars (Mich.)
10 Solar FC (Texas)
11 CASL Elite (N.C.)
12 FC Greater Boston (Mass.)
13 Bethesda SC (Md.)
14 PDA (N.J.)
15 Nomads SC (Calif.)
16 Irvine Strikers SC (Calif.)
17 Texas SC (Texas)
18 Colorado Rush (Colo.)
19 Schulz Academy (Fla.)
20 Real Colorado (Colo.)