Alston was drafted in the first round (10th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution after signing a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer. He made his professional debut on March 21, 2009, in New England's first game of the 2009 MLS season against the San Jose Earthquakes. Alston was selected to his first Major League Soccer All-Star Game during the 2010 season and was in the starting lineup for the match in Houston against Manchester United.
On December 22, 2009, Alston received his first call up to train with the senior US national team in preparation for a January friendly match against Honduras, however, he suffered a hamstring injury in training and was unable to participate. Alston was called up for the following friendly against El Salvador, but again had to pull out after a recurrence of the hamstring injury. He has yet to make his senior national team debut.