One of the big unknowns in men’s Division I soccer every season is the arrival of international players.

Funneled to the U.S. through various routes, players from abroad can be decisive in a team’s fortunes right away. A lot of that comes down to the professional or semi-professional background, being developed in a different soccer culture or even simply being a bit older than most domestic talent.

Twenty-nine of the players included in the Freshman Top 100 joined their respective programs from outside the traditional North American circles – although a handful more are internationals that moved to the United States earlier.

Below is a look at eight international freshman that have made a significant impact this season.