University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Lindley's Back For Another Title Run
August 25, 2017 | Men's Soccer
By Pat James,
When Cam Lindley committed to the North Carolina men's soccer team as a high school sophomore, nearly three years stood between him and his arrival in Chapel Hill.
But until he finally stepped foot on campus as a freshman last year, Lindley, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2016 according to College Soccer News, said he never anticipated playing for the Tar Heels.
Instead, like several other high-caliber players in recent years, Lindley planned on foregoing the college soccer experience in favor of professional opportunities.
Germany and the Netherlands each seemed like possible destinations. And the Chicago Fire, who own Lindley's Major League Soccer rights after he spent his teenage years playing for the Chicago Fire Academy, were another.
But a former teammate helped sway Lindley to UNC.
Lindley and Coy Craft, a member of FC Dallas, became friends playing together at different levels with the U.S. Men's National Team. One of the top recruits in the Class of 2015, Craft was also committed to the Tar Heels before signing with the Toros.
"Things didn't work out for him early, and he was supposed to be here as well," said Lindley of Craft. "We talked a little bit and he said, 'Maybe you should try college. Whether it's for six months, a year, two years, you're gonna grow as a player and as a person.'"
A year later, that's proven to be the case. But along with the maturation he's experienced, Lindley has continued facing the difficult challenges and decisions that come with being one of the game's brightest young stars.
The characteristics of a captain
In six years as UNC's head coach, Carlos Somoano said new players have often struggled to comprehend the team's system without losing a little bit of what makes their game unique. The opposite also occurs, as some freelance without much regard for the system.
A player might not properly adjust before their senior season. Sometimes, they might never. But Somoano said Lindley became one of the quickest to ever do so as a freshman.
"It's his unique ability to understand what the team needs and how the team functions without losing any of his individuality," said Somoano of what separates Lindley from other players. "He's able to express himself as a player, bring his talent to the game and integrate it into the team and what the team needs."
Much of that likely stems from Lindley's vast experience.
Lindley's parents, Gene and Tara, played soccer at Methodist College and UNCG. And starting at a young age, they placed a ball near Lindley's feet, tempting him to kick it.
By 2009, he joined the U.S. National Team, which he's played for at the under-14, -15, -17 and -20 levels. His time in the Chicago Fire Academy also afforded him the chance to practice with MLS pros – and required traveling almost seven hours round-trip four times each week from his home in Carmel, Indiana.
"Coming in here, obviously, the intensity is high," said Lindley of UNC. "I have played at higher intensities, whether it be an international match against France or something like that. The transition was smooth."
Lindley started all 21 matches for the Tar Heels last season. His seven assists tied for the third most in the ACC and helped him earn conference and TopDrawerSoccer National Freshman of the Year honors.
And on a team that boasted multiple veteran leaders, Lindley demonstrated a commanding presence in helping UNC reach the College Cup.
"He kind of just goes into a new team and he doesn't even feel like he's a new player to that team," said Mauricio Pineda, Lindley's roommate and a teammate on the Chicago Fire's under-18 team that won a national championship in 2015. "He just shows the characteristics right away of a captain and leads that team. And that's what he did here last year.
"It's always good to have someone like him on any team that you play with."
But it wasn't guaranteed Lindley would still be around as a sophomore.
'The guy they're chasing'
When last season ended with Stanford advancing past the Tar Heels on penalty kicks in the national semifinals, Lindley said he returned to campus for final exams. But shortly after, he started re-examining his professional prospects.
Over the next few weeks, he said he fielded phone calls and held meetings. However, he never reached a decision. Then, at his maternal uncle's wedding in January, it came to him.
Lindley's uncle, Tyler McCarroll, played soccer at Indiana from 2007-11. Several of McCarroll's teammates attended his wedding, including some who were members of the Hoosiers' 2012 national championship team.
"They were talking about the bond they had over the years and the growth they had as a team," Lindley recalled. "And I was like, 'You know, I want to be a part of something like that.'
"I had a bitter taste in my mouth about Stanford, and I wanted to get back out there and win a national championship this year."
For months, Lindley said he harassed assistant coach Grant Porter about when this season's schedule would be released. "When can I get out there with the guys?" he often asked. And at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Elon's Rudd Field, Lindley will finally get that chance when fourth-ranked UNC faces No. 12 Providence in its season opener.
If the Tar Heels hope to claim the national title, Lindley knows he needs to play a larger role than he did last year. It's one he's willing to assume, as well as the attention that comes with it.
As one of 31 players on the Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, Lindley won't surprise opposing teams like he might have as a freshman. They'll know who he is and what to expect. But that doesn't deter him.
"I want to be the best," Lindley said. "I want to push myself to that limit. I want to win the ACC Player of the Year. There's great players in the ACC … but I want to be at the top. I want to be the guy they're chasing."
A season consisting of such accomplishments could be what finally prompts Lindley to pursue a professional career. However, he's shown he's in no hurry.
"For a guy like Cam, either choice he makes, he'll make it work," Somoano said. "If he decides to forgo eligibility at Carolina and start his professional career with full commitment and drive and effort, which he has, he'll make it work. If he stays at Carolina, commits to his game and to his teammates and to the university, he'll make it work.
"It's just, 'Where do you want to be?'"
And as of now, that's in Chapel Hill.
When Cam Lindley committed to the North Carolina men's soccer team as a high school sophomore, nearly three years stood between him and his arrival in Chapel Hill.
But until he finally stepped foot on campus as a freshman last year, Lindley, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2016 according to College Soccer News, said he never anticipated playing for the Tar Heels.
Instead, like several other high-caliber players in recent years, Lindley planned on foregoing the college soccer experience in favor of professional opportunities.
Germany and the Netherlands each seemed like possible destinations. And the Chicago Fire, who own Lindley's Major League Soccer rights after he spent his teenage years playing for the Chicago Fire Academy, were another.
But a former teammate helped sway Lindley to UNC.
Lindley and Coy Craft, a member of FC Dallas, became friends playing together at different levels with the U.S. Men's National Team. One of the top recruits in the Class of 2015, Craft was also committed to the Tar Heels before signing with the Toros.
"Things didn't work out for him early, and he was supposed to be here as well," said Lindley of Craft. "We talked a little bit and he said, 'Maybe you should try college. Whether it's for six months, a year, two years, you're gonna grow as a player and as a person.'"
A year later, that's proven to be the case. But along with the maturation he's experienced, Lindley has continued facing the difficult challenges and decisions that come with being one of the game's brightest young stars.
The characteristics of a captain
In six years as UNC's head coach, Carlos Somoano said new players have often struggled to comprehend the team's system without losing a little bit of what makes their game unique. The opposite also occurs, as some freelance without much regard for the system.
A player might not properly adjust before their senior season. Sometimes, they might never. But Somoano said Lindley became one of the quickest to ever do so as a freshman.
"It's his unique ability to understand what the team needs and how the team functions without losing any of his individuality," said Somoano of what separates Lindley from other players. "He's able to express himself as a player, bring his talent to the game and integrate it into the team and what the team needs."
Much of that likely stems from Lindley's vast experience.
Lindley's parents, Gene and Tara, played soccer at Methodist College and UNCG. And starting at a young age, they placed a ball near Lindley's feet, tempting him to kick it.
By 2009, he joined the U.S. National Team, which he's played for at the under-14, -15, -17 and -20 levels. His time in the Chicago Fire Academy also afforded him the chance to practice with MLS pros – and required traveling almost seven hours round-trip four times each week from his home in Carmel, Indiana.
"Coming in here, obviously, the intensity is high," said Lindley of UNC. "I have played at higher intensities, whether it be an international match against France or something like that. The transition was smooth."
Lindley started all 21 matches for the Tar Heels last season. His seven assists tied for the third most in the ACC and helped him earn conference and TopDrawerSoccer National Freshman of the Year honors.
And on a team that boasted multiple veteran leaders, Lindley demonstrated a commanding presence in helping UNC reach the College Cup.
"He kind of just goes into a new team and he doesn't even feel like he's a new player to that team," said Mauricio Pineda, Lindley's roommate and a teammate on the Chicago Fire's under-18 team that won a national championship in 2015. "He just shows the characteristics right away of a captain and leads that team. And that's what he did here last year.
"It's always good to have someone like him on any team that you play with."
But it wasn't guaranteed Lindley would still be around as a sophomore.
'The guy they're chasing'
When last season ended with Stanford advancing past the Tar Heels on penalty kicks in the national semifinals, Lindley said he returned to campus for final exams. But shortly after, he started re-examining his professional prospects.
Over the next few weeks, he said he fielded phone calls and held meetings. However, he never reached a decision. Then, at his maternal uncle's wedding in January, it came to him.
Lindley's uncle, Tyler McCarroll, played soccer at Indiana from 2007-11. Several of McCarroll's teammates attended his wedding, including some who were members of the Hoosiers' 2012 national championship team.
"They were talking about the bond they had over the years and the growth they had as a team," Lindley recalled. "And I was like, 'You know, I want to be a part of something like that.'
"I had a bitter taste in my mouth about Stanford, and I wanted to get back out there and win a national championship this year."
For months, Lindley said he harassed assistant coach Grant Porter about when this season's schedule would be released. "When can I get out there with the guys?" he often asked. And at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Elon's Rudd Field, Lindley will finally get that chance when fourth-ranked UNC faces No. 12 Providence in its season opener.
If the Tar Heels hope to claim the national title, Lindley knows he needs to play a larger role than he did last year. It's one he's willing to assume, as well as the attention that comes with it.
As one of 31 players on the Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, Lindley won't surprise opposing teams like he might have as a freshman. They'll know who he is and what to expect. But that doesn't deter him.
"I want to be the best," Lindley said. "I want to push myself to that limit. I want to win the ACC Player of the Year. There's great players in the ACC … but I want to be at the top. I want to be the guy they're chasing."
A season consisting of such accomplishments could be what finally prompts Lindley to pursue a professional career. However, he's shown he's in no hurry.
"For a guy like Cam, either choice he makes, he'll make it work," Somoano said. "If he decides to forgo eligibility at Carolina and start his professional career with full commitment and drive and effort, which he has, he'll make it work. If he stays at Carolina, commits to his game and to his teammates and to the university, he'll make it work.
"It's just, 'Where do you want to be?'"
And as of now, that's in Chapel Hill.
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