A return to league action across the USL Championship and USL League One over the past week saw some familiar young talents step back into the spotlight for their clubs, and some new faces impress when called to help their sides rally to earn results.

Here are seven young talents who grabbed the spotlight over the past week of action, including a career first for one of League One’s top U-22 talents and another game-winner for Las Vegas’ attacking ace in the hole in the USL Jägermeister Cup.

Luis Álvarez, Charlotte Independence – Having been a finalist for USL League One’s Young Player of the Year award last year, the 22-year-old Colombian has continued his ascent so far in the 2025 campaign. This past Saturday, Álvarez bagged a goal and an assist in his side’s comeback 4-3 victory against Texoma FC at Bearcat Stadium, keeping his cool in second-half stoppage time to convert from the penalty spot to lift his side to all three points.

The goal capped a superb all-around display by Álvarez, who recorded six chances created – one off the single-game high in League One this season – while recording four shots including a strike off the woodwork before his late winner, which stood as the first penalty kick he had taken in League One in his career.

“These are things that happen in the instant,” said Álvarez of stepping up to take the spot kick with the game on the line. “I don’t think anything crossed my mind. These are decisions that are made at the last minute, and thank God it happened. All my teammates know that I always try new things.”

Across all competitions, Álvarez has now bagged four goals and two assists in nine appearances this season. He played a key role in leading the Independence to victories in the U.S. Open Cup and in its opening USL Jägermeister Cup victory against the Championship’s North Carolina FC, standing as one of a handful of players who has scored in both cup competitions as well as the league this season.

After last year’s success – which also saw him earn selection to the League One All-League First Team – Álvarez continues to show qualities that can carry him to higher levels.

Nighte Pickering, Las Vegas Lights FC – Handed his first start since arriving with the Lights this offseason, Pickering made the most of his opportunity last Wednesday night in the club’s USL Jägermeister Cup contest against AV ALTA FC, scoring the game-winner with 17 minutes to play as Las Vegas took a 2-1 win against its USL League One opponent to cap a strong all-around display at Cashman Field.

The 20-year-old United States youth international led the defensive line up front, winning 3 of 3 tackles and 6 of 10 ground duels as the Lights deep-lying defensive set-up required all hands to be on deck in a contest where the hosts held only 26.8 percent of possession.

Pickering’s quality as a finisher came through in the second half, however, as he capitalized on an excellent lead pass by Shawn Smart to get in behind the Alta back line. Pickering used his first touch to lift the ball past a defender as he attempted to intercept and his second lashed a looping finish into the back of the net for his second game-winning goal of the season.

Ashton Miles, Orange County SC – An OCSC Academy product, Miles came on to good effect as he replaced Tom Brewitt early in the second half of Orange County’s contest against FC Tulsa on Saturday night, providing his first assist of the season moments after coming on to set up Lyam MacKinnon’s opening goal of the night while putting in a strong defensive shift to help the hosts take a 2-1 win at Championship Soccer Stadium.

The 20-year-old recorded five clearances and two recoveries defensively while completing 10 of 14 passes and winning his lone contested tackle in 38 minutes of action. Miles is currently serving as a backup option to the experienced Brewitt and 23-year-old Nico Benalcazar but showed here why the side signed him to a pro deal after numerous impressive performances for the club’s U-20 squad at the USL Academy level.

Collin Smith, Phoenix Rising FC – Smith has had some up-and-down performances since joining Rising this past season, but on Saturday night against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC he helped the side earn a 1-1 draw on the road at Weidner Field with a strong all-around defensive display that showed his capabilities at right back.

Smith led all players in the contest winning 10 of 11 duels – including 6 of 6 ground duels – while also winning 2 of 2 tackles and recording two interceptions, four clearances and five recoveries on the night. The 21-year-old also completed 21 of 26 passes – including 7 of 8 passes in the final third – as he helped support Rising’s attack and Ihsan Sacko on the right flank.

Endri Mustali, Tampa Bay Rowdies – The local product has already achieved an iconic moment this season with his Panenka penalty kick against FC Naples in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last month, but Mustali continued to show what he can offer the Rowdies off the bench on Saturday night as he bagged his first assist in the USL Championship on Pacifique Niyongabire’s stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham Legion.

Brought on as a late substitute, the 17-year-old showed a deft touch to slip the Burundi international into the penalty area, from where Niyongabire’s delivered a highlight reel dribble and finish to earn the hosts a point. Mustali is likely to gain experience this season behind the Rowdies’ established attacking pairing of Manuel Arteaga and Woobens Pacius, but the flashes we’ve seen from the 6-foot-4 center forward give us plenty to look forward to.

Felipe Rodriguez, Miami FC – After making regular appearances a season ago as Miami rotated through shot-stoppers, Rodriguez has served as the back-up to Bill Hamid for much of the current campaign. Coming in for a spot-start on the road against Monterey Bay FC this Sunday, though, the 20-year-old helped keep his side in the game before they scored a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Cardinale Stadium.

Rodriguez was left helpless on a beautifully executed tic-tac-toe goal by the hosts early, but ended the day with four saves and a Goals Prevented mark of -0.28. Currently a USL Academy signing with the club, Rodriguez has yet to record a shutout in league play, but the club’s improvement in form this year could put him in line to achieve that should he be needed to step in again as this season goes on.

Finn Sundstrom, North Carolina FC – Since making his debut late in 2024, Sundstrom has started to earn regular minutes this season in North Carolina’s back line this season and on Saturday put in arguably his strongest performance to date as NCFC took a 2-0 victory on the road at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the first time the side had won at Highmark Stadium in its history.

Playing on the right side of NCFC’s three-center-back formation, the 18-year-old won 6 of 6 tackles and 6 of 8 ground duels while recording five clearances and two recoveries. A graduate of the NCFC Academy, the USL Academy signing has already logged more than 500 minutes of action this season and could continue to see regular minutes as the year progresses.