CARY, N.C. (Oct. 31, 2023) – North Carolina FC has a league-high three players named to the USL League One All-League first team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Forward Oalex Anderson and midfielders Mikey Maldonado and Rafa Mentzingen all earn the full-season accolades.
Anderson finished the season as Golden Boot runner-up with 17 goals and added six assists for 23 overall goal contributions, which ranked second in USL League One. The forward was named as the league’s July Player of the Month and was named to the USL League One Team of the Week seven times during the 2023 campaign, earning the Player of the Week distinction in week 16.
Holding down the midfield for NCFC, Maldonado racked up a team-high 52 tackles and maintained an 85.2% pass accuracy while leading the team with 2,699 minutes played. He chipped in on the offensive end with one highlight-reel goal and two assists. Maldonado was named to the league’s Team of the Week once during the 2023 season and was a Second Team Best XI selection last season for Forward Madison.
Mentzingen’s 18 goal contributions ranked third in USL League One with his 13 goals tied for fourth-most in the league. The midfielder led NCFC in chance creation with 46, which ranked eighth in the league. Mentzingen was named the League’s Player of the Month in April after his five goals helped propel the team to an unbeaten month. He was also nominated for the award in September. Mentzingen took home USL League One Team of the Week honors eight times in the 2023 season, earning the Player of the Week distinction in week 3.
North Carolina FC will host the USL League One Final this Sunday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park. After narrowly missing the Players’ Shield, the 2-seed NCFC dominated Northern Colorado for a 3-1 win in the league semifinals last weekend to advance to the second league final in team history. NCFC will look to end a three-year stint in USL League One on a high note before rejoining the USL Championship in 2024. Tickets for the Final are on sale now.