Stephen McCarthy

How Acquired: Drafted by the Revolution in the second round (24th overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

Began his professional career as a defensive midfielder in 2011, but has transitioned to central defense under head coach Jay Heaps … along the backline, uses his height to great effect, and also benefits from excellent footwork and touch on the ball … in the midfield, uses his imposing size and length to be active in the play … able to connect passes under pressure … can cover a lot of ground quickly if needed, especially in support of his teammates … can also get forward as a target man on set pieces … has an accurate shot from distance ... changed his jersey number from #26 to #15 in the 2012-13 off-season in tribute to late Columbus midfielder Kirk Urso, a friend and former teammate at North Carolina … Twitter account: @BigMacca15.

Professional: Made 19 appearances, including 17 starts. Made 18 of his 19 appearances at center back and one appearance in the central midfield. Made his season debut at New York (April 20) as a substitution for A.J. Soares, who came off injured, playing 72 minutes at center back. Started the next 13 matches before leaving the Colorado match (July 17) in the second half with a head laceration. Returned to the starting lineup against D.C. (July 27) after missing Columbus match (July 20). Appeared as a second-half substitute against Columbus (Oct. 19), his first appearance since a Sept. 14 start at Chicago, and slotted into the defensive central midfield for the time since his rookie season of 2011. Did not see any action in the MLS Cup Playoffs against Sporting Kansas City or in the U.S. Open Cup.

2012: Was voted the Revs’ 2012 Best Defender by the team’s media. Made 28 appearances, including 27 starts, both career highs. All of his 2,308 minutes came at center back. Recorded one assist. Started the season opener at San Jose (March 10) at center back, making his first-ever professional start along the back line. Was issued his first career red card in the 14th minute at Kansas City (March 17), and missed the Revs’ home opener against Portland (March 24) while serving a mandatory one-game suspension. Returned to the starting lineup at center back in the match at LA (March 31). Recorded his first assist of the season on Saer Sene’s goal against Colorado (May 2). Sat out the Real Salt Lake match (May 5) after playing two games in five days earlier in the week, but returned to the starting lineup against Vancouver (May 12). Started the match against Toronto (July 14) but came off in the sixth minute with concussive-like symptoms following a head-to-head collision on a 50-50 ball and missed the Montreal game (July 18) while waiting to take tests to clear him to return to play. Returned to the starting lineup at Kansas City (July 21). Needed six stitches over his right eye after suffering a cut in a stoppage-time collision in the match at Philadelphia (July 29). Made his first substitute appearance of the season at center back against New York (Sept. 22), replacing the injured Flo Lechner in the 35th minute. Missed final three matches of the season with concussive-like symptoms stemming from a training-field collision.

2011: Made 21 regular-season appearances, including 18 starts in the central midfield, before undergoing season-ending arthroscopic labrum repair surgery on his shoulder on Sept. 12. Scored two goals and added one assist. Made his MLS debut in the season opener at LA Galaxy (March 20). Scored his first professional goal on April 2 against Portland, and then received a yellow card caution for his goal celebration where he lifted up his shirt to reveal a message to his grandfather in the Portland area. Missed his first game at Chivas USA (April 30) when he was not selected after playing 90 minutes the previous Tuesday in USOC qualifying at DC. Missed the Seattle match (June 26) with a left shoulder subluxation (dislocation) after picking up the injury in the June 21 reserve league match and did not travel to Salt Lake (July 4) to continue rehabbing. Was a second-half substitute in the friendly against Manchester United (July 13). Returned to the starting lineup against Philadelphia (July 17), and then recorded the game-winning goal at D.C. (July 20), heading in Chris Tierney’s corner kick. Recorded his first assist at Colorado (July 23), flicking on a headed pass to Benny Feilhaber for the goal. Left the match at Kansas City (July 30) in the 34th minute with a left shoulder injury, but returned to the starting lineup against Chivas USA (Aug. 6). Was unavailable at Philadelphia (September 7) as his shoulder injury persisted. Underwent surgery on his left shoulder on Sept. 12 to fix his chronic subluxation. Made two appearances in MLS Reserve League action, including one start. Started at Toronto (June 21), but left after 30 minutes when he aggravated a prior shoulder injury. Came on as a second-half sub against New York (Aug. 21). Was a last-minute addition to the travel party for the team’s U.S. Open Cup Play-In round game at D.C. (April 26), and played 90 minutes in the central midfield when Pat Phelan (concussion) was unable to travel for the match.

College: Played his redshirt senior season at North Carolina (2010) after spending four years (2006-09) at Santa Clara … played three full seasons and three games of his true senior season for the Broncos before transferring to UNC to complete his added year of eligibility … was an all-region selection in 2010, and was a four-time all-conference choice (three-time All-West Coast Conference – 2006, 2007, 2008; All-ACC – 2010) … as a senior, helped guide the Tar Heels to the NCAA national semifinals, where the team lost to national runner-up, Louisville … scored UNC’s lone goal in the College Cup in its 2-1 loss to Louisville … during the 2010 season, started 17 of his 18 appearances, scoring two goals and adding one assist … made 64 appearances at Santa Clara, starting 63 games, in three-and-a-half years … scored eight goals and added two assists for the Broncos, including a career-high six goals as a sophomore in 2007 which helped earn him a place on the all-region team.

Personal: Son of Michael and Katie McCarthy … is the middle of the couple’s three children … comes from an active family … his mother, Katie, won the 1979 NJCAA cross-country skiing championship and also played collegiate volleyball at New Mexico … his father, Michael, is a marathon runner in his spare time … enjoys writing music and watching movies … his favorite soccer teams are Arsenal and Liverpool, and follows Patrick Viera and Steven Gerrard.