In this week’s recruiting update a top ranked defender is sought by a number of schools, but he eyes an ACC program, a cunning forward discusses his professional aspirations, and an off-the-radar center midfielder could help any number of schools. 

Trevor Haberkorn, Solar Chelsea SC, Defender

Graduation year: 2013

Top 150 Rank: #15

Potential schools: Wake Forest, Furman, Indiana, SMU, Louisville, North Carolina, Kentucky, Clemson, UCF, High Point, Creighton, Georgetown, Michigan State, South Florida, and Northwestern.

Fresh off an appearance with the U.S. U18 Men’s National Team, Trevor Haberkorn finds himself in an envious but difficult situation. 

The standout center back is the best-uncommitted defender in our top 150 rankings, and many programs are eager for his attention and commitment. 

That also means he has a lot of options to sort through, but the Lone Star State talent has already narrowed his list of schools down from 15 to 6. 

He says he is interested in Furman, Indiana, Louisville, Creighton, UNC, and SMU. 

But there is one school that he really wants to attend.

“My dream school is North Carolina,” Haberkorn revealed. “I have always wanted to be a Tar Heel, but I did also enjoy Indiana and Louisville very much as well.”

UNC men’s soccer head coach Carlos Somoano and the boys in Tar Heel blue should be eager to land a well-rounded recruit like Haberkorn. 

But the Keller, Texas native knows that college is a two-way street and he is also putting a lot of consideration into the academics. 

“I went through a very rough injury a year ago and I would like a degree to fall back on if a career ending injury may occur down the road,” Haberkorn said. “[The most important factors to me are] getting a great education, as well as getting the chance to play for one of the top soccer programs in the country.”

The Solar Chelsea SC leader put a lot of consideration into the coaching staff at his potential university as well. 

“The coaching staff is also a big part of my decision,” he said. “Because they will be the ones helping me develop as a player while also creating a great soccer environment that will help lead the team to a national championship.”

Christian Soldat, Dallas Texans, Forward

Graduation year: 2013

Top 150 rank: #78

Potential schools: Stanford, Santa Clara, Ohio State, Yale, Cornell, Syracuse, UNC, Louisville, and others

Christian Soldat knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. The Dallas Texans standout has scored 17 goals in 34 starts in the Development Academy over the past two seasons. 

That goal-scoring clip is why programs all across the country have expressed interested in the Dallas native who has professional aspirations. 

“I am looking for a program that will challenge me and help prepare me to play in the pros,” Soldat said. “I am also looking to get a very good education to prepare me for life after the pros.”

Soldat can attribute his success on the field to good genes. His two older sisters will both be playing Division-I soccer in the fall. 

Randi Soldat, the eldest of the trio, has started every game for NC State since arriving on campus in 2010. Shelby Soldat will be a freshman at Ohio State in the fall.

The sisterly advice has helped Christian develop a pretty good idea of what he wants from his college experience. 

“I am looking for quality coaches that will help me grow as a person and a player,” Soldat said. “Coaches who know what it takes to get to the next level. And lastly, I am looking for a group of boys who have the same core values as me – a strong work ethic and desire to win with the ultimate goal of a national championship.”

 

Michael Turner, San Diego Surf, Midfield

Graduation year: 2013

Top 150 rank: N/A

Potential schools: San Diego, Santa Clara, Yale, Bucknell, Davidson, Colgate, Fordham, and Penn

Michael Turner is the type of player that programs are built around. He is not the flash and glitz of a blue chip recruit, but he is the type of leader (with a 4.0 GPA) who anchors many of the top programs across the country.

“I feel really fortunate to have received interest from many schools, both big and small, across the country,” the humble midfielder said. “I have been in contact with San Diego, Santa Clara, Yale, Bucknell, Davidson, Colgate, Fordham, and Penn, among other amazing schools and soccer programs. It is overwhelming.”

In his first season in the Development Academy, Turner is leading his team in scoring with seven goals in 19 games from his spot in the center of the park. He also has his San Diego Surf U16 team on an upward swing with one of the best points per game played ratios in the nation. 

Turner has taken unofficial visits to a pair of schools in California and was really impressed with what he saw. 

“After visiting Santa Clara and University of San Diego, I would have to say those are my favorites so far, but I have yet to travel toward the east,” he said. 

Turner added that it is a difficult decision, but also an exciting one with the prospect of attending any number of renowned institutions. 

“While searching for a college, I want to find a school that is both academically and athletically strong,” he said. “I want to find a place where there is a good fit with both the coaches and the other players. The college I commit to will be my home, my school, and my soccer team for four years.”