McCarty casts his own light as a junior

The shadow stands only 5-feet 9-inches, yet it encompasses Dustin McCarty all the same.

Dax McCarty stayed at North Carolina only two years, a bushel of light brown hair on a scrawny and unimposing body.

It’s been four years since he’s been here. But for Dustin, time hasn’t passed so quickly. The shadow has persisted much longer than that. Only now it’s not so overpowering. It doesn’t cause others to turn their heads and whisper about the shadow.

Because now Dustin’s casting his own light.

The start

Just outside of Orlando, Fla., Dart and Cynthia McCarty raised their two boys, Dax and Dustin.

“I was with [Dax] every time [playing soccer],” Dustin said. “He had a serious passion for soccer. He really brought me up and taught me all the fundamentals. I’ve looked up to him my whole life with soccer, and I still do actually.”

Dustin looked up to Dax skill-wise as well. During his first two years of high school, Dax earned almost every individual accolade possible, including All-American status and a scholarship to UNC.

For two years, Dax delighted fans at Fetzer Field. The fiery midfielder was first-team All-ACC as a sophomore in 2005 and easily one of the top players in the conference. But there would be no encore. Dax decided two seasons was enough and entered the Major League Soccer draft. FC Dallas picked him, and Dax became a pro.

But the reverberations of his time in Chapel Hill remained.

“The funny thing is that I’ve been pretty much hiding under my brother’s shadow for as long as I can remember,” Dustin said. “I feel like everyone that notices me thinks of me as little Dax and as his little brother.”

‘Walking with giants’

Dustin wanted to play with the big boys. For years, he had accompanied his father to adult leagues and watched. By age 15 he joined a Premier Development League team, a highly competitive amateur soccer league filled with men.

“It was a little bit of an intimidation, considering I’m definitely not one of the tallest or strongest,” Dustin said. “I’m walking with giants, but I took it as a challenge.”

Dustin struggled with the physical play, but he did excel. And like Dax, Dustin racked up several awards in high school. But he had a sense that what he achieved wasn’t good enough compared to his brother.

Dustin had always wanted to go to UNC, but when the Tar Heels didn’t recruit him heavily, he realized that an alternative route might be best and turned to Central Florida’s scholarship offer.

The Knights were led by his old club soccer coach, Bryan Cunningham. The familiarity helped, as did the full scholarship Dustin was offered. Dustin also thought he’d have a good chance to start or play significant minutes.

“It taught me a lot of maturity,” he said. “I grew up faster in that one year than I had in my whole life.”

But Dustin and Cunningham weren’t on the same page. They had been good friends at the club level, but in college, Cunningham was all business. Dustin began to realize that he didn’t see himself going to a higher level with the program. So Dustin called his father to see about transferring — preferably to UNC.

Dart told Dustin he’d get in touch with UNC coach Elmar Bolowich.

“(Dustin) made the contact with us about the possibility of a transfer,” Bolowich said. “We looked at his stats and what he had done at Central Florida at the time. There was a renewed interest, and it worked out.”

Dustin entered UNC as a sophomore in 2008 — the second McCarty to grace Chapel Hill.

“People always tell me, ‘You play like Dax, and you even act like Dax,’” Dustin said. “I hate even going by that. I want to make sure everyone knows that I’m my own player.”

Frustration

This wasn’t supposed to be happening to Dustin.

During his freshman season at UCF, Dustin had been playing every minute. Now, he was scrapping for just 15 to 20 minutes a game. Dustin’s confidence plummeted.

“Sometimes, I felt like I wasn’t doing anything right,” he said. “I would second-guess myself. I felt like I would lower my playing standards, which didn’t help me at all.”

He saw action in 16 games but started only two. Bolowich constantly moved Dustin to different positions. One game, Dustin lined up at forward. The next, defender. And at other times, midfielder.

Dustin became frustrated that the coaching staff couldn’t find a spot for him. The UNC coaches told Dustin that he was a good player, but his focus was off. At times, Dustin seemed to be going through the motions.

His teammates reminded Dustin not to get down. His father said the same. But it was Dax’s advice that Dustin sought most.

“My brother would tell me that he went through the same thing when he came here,” Dustin said. “He told me that he would get frustrated as hell trying to earn that starting spot and trying to get enough playing time. Even though sometimes he thought he was better than the players (starting). In the end, it worked out for him, and he learned a lot.”

Dax had struggled. It seemed hard to fathom. Obviously, Dax had created quite the legacy, but to hear of his struggles was something new.

Dax’s follow-up season, though, was practically the story of success. Dustin wanted the same.

Making a name

During his sophomore season, Dustin’s mind wandered. He’d reflect on a growing social life. School. Work. Family. He’d think about the expectations of following where Dax left off.

It was too much. Dustin realized that in order to show any improvement, he had to let go. Stop worrying so much and just focus on soccer.

So he did.

He trained all offseason before his junior year. Got physically fit through endurance and speed training. Improved his eating habits. No more fast food. He completely cut soda out of his diet.

By North Carolina’s sixth game, Dustin was starting as a central midfielder. Granted, the team experienced an abundance of injuries before and after that match, but Dustin was beginning to play a pivotal role — one he still holds.

“By the way he’s been playing this year, and I’ve been following him quite a bit, he’s showing people that there’s another McCarty player that’s just as good,” Dax said.

Through 16 games, Dustin has contributed two goals and zero assists. But that’s not his role. As UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty said, Dustin is a machine with winning headers. He provides stability and a good tackling presence near the back.

And he’s begun to step out from behind Dax’s shadow.

Earlier this season, after a 1-0 loss to Maryland, the Terrapins’ coach came over to talk to Dustin.

“He stayed me with a lengthier time, and it seemed like he walked up to me instead of me walking up to him,” Dustin said.

“He was giving me compliments and compliments and didn’t even mention my brother at all.”

Not many people do these days.

In fact, friends have recently referred to Dax as Dustin’s brother.

“That is definitely a stretch,” Dustin said.

“But,” he added, “that would definitely make my day.”



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.