CARY, N.C. (August 10, 2023) – North Carolina FC forward Oalex Anderson has been named USL League One Player of the Month for July, as announced by the league Thursday. Anderson becomes the second North Carolina FC player to earn monthly honors, joining Rafa Mentzingen who earned the April honors. The Player of the Month award is decided by a combination of fan vote and technical committee ballot.
Anderson scored four goals in July. Now second in the 2023 Golden Boot race, he led North Carolina FC to an unbeaten month and the top spot in the league table. He scored in three of the four matches, including a brace on July 16 against then-league leader Colorado Hailstorm in a 2-0 result that snapped NoCo’s 14-match unbeaten streak. He rattled off 15 shots, including eight on target, throughout the month.
Anderson has scored 11 goals and has four assists in 2023. He’s been named to the USL League One Team of the Week seven times and was also nominated for April Player of the Month. He’s scored in six of his last seven overall matches, including the winner on the road against South Georgia last weekend in a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over the defending league champions.
“The team went undefeated throughout the month. You don’t get chosen for player of the month if your team hasn’t been successful. Thanks to my teammates for trusting to pass me the ball in position to score goals. Strikers don’t score goals without his teammates passing him the ball, and the coaches to have faith in me to keep me on the field.” Anderson said.
“I’m extremely pleased with Oalex earning this honor, but even more proud of the overall growth of this young man. He has been incredibly focused throughout the year and has raised the levels of his game on both sides of the ball from the first day of preseason. He was tremendous for us during July and vital to our group going unbeaten during the month. I’m excited to see him continue to progress and what it will certainly mean to our team in the second half of the season” said head coach John Bradford.
Anderson also put up a stellar performance on the last day of June in the final match-up of the season with rival Charlotte Independence. Anderson recorded his first brace of the year to earn a home win in the Dogwood Derby and force a season-series split with the in-state foe.
Next Up
North Carolina FC will return home to WakeMed Soccer Park to take on Greenville Triumph on Saturday, August 12th, with a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Tickets are available here. The match will stream on ESPN+ and @NorthCarolinaFC will provide social media updates.
