CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence announced on Wednesday the club had acquired defender Donnie Smith on loan from Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution. A native of North Carolina, Smith joins the Independence ahead of the club’s game on Thursday night with the New York Red Bulls II.

Smith competed as a youth player for Charlotte Soccer Academy before signing collegiately for UNC Charlotte. Smith scored 18 goals and added 10 assists in 82 appearances (45 starts) for the 49ers in his college career. From 2010-12, Smith was named to the Atlantic-10 All-Conference team and in 2012 was named the Conference Midfielder of the Year. In 2011, Smith helped propel Charlotte to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.

“I ended up playing against [Independence player] Enzo [Martinez] in the National Championship game my Junior year,” said Smith. “We lost to Chapel Hill 1-0.”

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Smith also competed in the Premier Development League for the Carolina Dynamo before being selected with the 21st pick of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by the Revolution. Smith has made five appearances for the Revolution in MLS, and was also on the field when the Independence earned an upset victory against New England in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2015.

“I remember it was a 1-0 game,” said Smith. “Jorge [Herrera] hit a banger off a counter [attack]. I remember it.”