We continue our look forward with freshman standouts who appear ready to take the next step as sophomores. This time around we peruse the Big East Blue Conference where there is no shortage of up-and-comers.

Carlos Alvarez, Connecticut: Honestly, it’s debatable whether the Big East Freshman of the Year should even be included on a list of rising stars – it could be said that Alvarez is already there. He burst onto the college scene last year and was one of the driving forces behind the Huskies NCAA appearance. Alvarez led the conference in assists, no surprise to those that have followed a youth soccer career that included being called into both the U20 U.S. and Mexico national teams while playing for LAFC. He has a most bright future in front of him.  

Kyle Soroka

Dillon Powers, Notre Dame: The former Gatorade National Player of the Year as well as U.S. Development Academy Co-Player of the Year, Powers had collegiate star written all over him from the beginning. With his great size and feel for the game, Powers is already one of his team’s top play-makers. And with key offensive cogs like Bright Dike and Michael Thomas moving on expect the precocious Powers to further spread his wings in 2010.

Kyle Soroka, Villanova: Soroka made a solid and immediate impact on his program by meshing well on the team’s backline. Soroka is strong and athletic and has always had the ability to serve a dangerous long ball. Already a solid size for an outside back, Soroka could still get bigger and stronger as he continues to develop. He has good experience playing in the national pool as a youth player and should be a dependable starter for the remainder of his career.

Eric Schoenle, West Virginia: At 6-foot-4, Schoenle is a potentially dominating presence who excels in the air and is solid on the ground. He started all 18 games on the back line and was the only Mountaineer position player to play every minute in 2009. Schoenle was a member of the TopDrawerSoccer.com All-Rookie First Team and will only get better.

Hasani Sinclair, South Florida: An extremely dynamic attacker, Sinclair was tied for the team lead in points and led his program in shots. Sinclair was touted as an incoming freshman as a member of the U.S. U18 national team. He also played in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup this past summer and seems destined to move into a professional career before everything is all said and done.