F.C. Dallas made a statement with their 6-0 pounding of the Wizards that they are ready to battle it out in the second half of the MLS season to make the MLS playoffs.  Midfielder Dax McCarty took a moment to speak with Soccer 365’s Sean Heffernan about the game, his play this season, his Olympic  experience and more.

By Sean Heffernan

In North Texas a strong contingent of young U.S. soccer talent is being herded by MLS club FC Dallas. One such young up and coming American player the Hoops have in their stable is midfielder Dax McCarty. The former North Carolina stand out has found his place in the center of the midfield directing traffic on both ends of the field this season.

If you were anywhere last Saturday night that was showing ESPN you would have noticed the red headed footballer and his FC Dallas teammates all over Sportscenter as they pounced the Kansas City Wizards 6-0 with striker Jeff Cunningham scoring four goals himself. FC Dallas still has a way to go to get back into the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, but the win was a great way to start the second half of the MLS season

This time last year McCarty was a world away from Texas across the world representing the United States in the Beijing Olympics. The midfielder's impressive form during the Pre-Olympic tournament had him named to the all-tournament team along with fellow Americans Maurice Edu and Freddy Adu. McCarty's hard work paid off as he was a late addition to the United States Olympic roster. The Americans played well in Beijing, but a late game tying free kick against the Netherlands and a red card against Nigeria saw the U.S. exit the tournament early.

Dax McCarty took the time to answer some of Soccer365's questions about his experiences at the Olympics and with FC Dallas.

Soccer 365: Congrats on the big win over the weekend at home against Kansas City. It was nice to see FC Dallas highlights on ESPN over and over again on Saturday night. It seemed like the team was on fire. What was it like to play in a game like that?
Dax: First of all, thank you very much. It was a must win game from our standpoint. Were getting into the home stretch of the season right now and I think anyone will tell you that winning at home is essential for having a chance at getting into the playoffs. Losing Kenny Cooper is obviously a big loss for our team, but I think we all wanted to prove that we are going to be able to do alright without him. It felt great to able to be part of the game, anytime you score 6 six goals and keep a clean sheet, it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s definitely the type of result that can turn your season around.

Soccer 365: I always pay attention to FC Dallas because it really has a great stockpile of young American talent with the likes of Brek Shea, Anthony Wallace, Kyle Davies, and yourself on roster. What can we expect from FC Dallas’ young Americans?
Dax: I think our coaching staff through the years has done a great job of scouting and drafting young talent. I think when you have an approach like that; you have an eye towards the future. All young players, myself included, go through ups and downs adjusting to the professional environment, and I think that with time, everyone will start to see the immense talent that they all have. I think that all our younger guys will be big contributors to FC Dallas as well as the US National team in the near future.

Soccer 365: This season you've solidified your position in the midfield at your club. What was it that helped you break through to the starting lineup? Any thoughts on the rest of the season?
Dax: I think consistency has really helped me progress to another level this season. In the past, my play would be up and down throughout the year, and I would let that affect my confidence. This year, I have been playing a position that I am very comfortable in, and that has given me confidence to play to my strengths and really try to help the team in any way I can. We have a better team in Dallas than our record would suggest, and right now our only focus is making the playoffs. We still feel we have a chance to make it with a good run of results. We won't stop fighting.

Soccer 365: You played terrifically in the Pre Olympic tournament and earned a spot to go to Beijing. That must have been an incredible experience. What are some of your memories?
Dax: Being able to participate in the Olympics was not only a tremendous honor, but also something I will never forget. One thing that really sticks out in my mind is how good our team was. I think we were a bit unlucky and all extremely disappointed to not advance out of the group stage. It was definitely one of the most talented teams I have ever played on, and to be a part of that team was very exciting. The opening ceremonies in particular were another thing comes to mind. Being able to walk into the Birds Nest representing your country with all the other athletes from other sports standing by your side was a great source of pride for me. The entire experience is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.