Notre Dame Soccer: Tommy McCabe Selected By FC Cincinnati In 2019 MLS Super Draft

A native of South Orange, New Jersey, Tommy McCabe became the latest former Irish soccer player to join the professional ranks over the weekend. The midfielder was selected 29th overall in the second round of the MLS Super Draft on Friday by FC Cincinnati. McCabe was the only Notre Dame player selected in this year’s draft.

McCabe left Notre Dame this at the conclusion of his junior season in 2018. He started in 60 of his 61 appearances in three seasons for the Irish. Specifically, McCabe played the central defensive midfield position and was a part of a Notre Dame defense that held opponents to one or less in 17 of 21 matches in 2018. Perhaps McCabe’s biggest play of the 2018 season came when he had the assist on the game-winning goal in the NCAA Tournament round of 16 against Virginia.

Prior to his final season at Notre Dame, McCabe was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2017 and was named the #10 freshman in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer in 2016.

McCabe seemed destined for professional soccer at a young age. He won the New Jersey state championship his freshman season of high school. He then joined the United States Soccer Under-17 Residency Program which afforded him the opportunity to play in the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile. McCabe was also a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America Youth All-America selection in 2014 and 2015.

2019 will be FC Cincinnati’s first season in Major League Soccer. They play their home games at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium until 2021. McCabe has a unique opportunity here to be a key piece of the franchise as it makes the jump to America’s top pro-league. “You can’t ask for much more than that,” McCabe said of that chance.

FC Cincinnati will play their first ever MLS game Saturday, March 2nd in Seattle against the Sounders.