CARY, N.C. (Nov. 9, 2023) — North Carolina FC has announced their 2023 team full season awards. The USL League One champions held a team vote for MVP, newcomer of the year, offensive and defensive player of the year, and the leadership award. The results were shared with the team during exit meetings this week following Sunday’s USL League One Final victory.
Oalex Anderson was voted Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Chris Lue Young was named Defensive Player of the Year. Louis Perez was crowned as the Newcomer of the Year. USL League One Final MVP Raheem Somersall and captain Garrett McLaughlin were jointly selected for the Leadership Award.
Anderson, who also finished as a finalist of USL League One Player of the Year, led the team in scoring with 17 goals and finished second in the league’s Golden Boot race. The forward also contributed six assists.
Anderson appeared in 31 games, including 27 starts, logging 2,162 minutes, won 109 duels and created 25 chances.
Across the 2023 season, Anderson was named to the USL League One Team of the Week eight times and earned the Player of the Week distinction in Week 18.
Lue Young took home the team’s Defender of the Year honors for the second year in a row, anchoring the second-stingiest defense in the league, which allowed just 39 goals and collected nine clean sheets in the regular season.
Lue Young won 65% of his tackles and 55.5% of his duels, while making 26 interceptions, 46 clearances, two assists and 22 chances. Played 2,419 minutes, the third-most on the team. The fullback was named to the USL League One Team of the Week in Week 20.
Perez joined the team ahead of the 2023 season and made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals and adding one assist. Perez also scored the third goal in the team’s 3-1 semifinal win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm.
Across 30 appearances, including 26 starts, Perez played 2,169 minutes and won 159 duels at a 53.4% clip. The midfielder also completed a team-leading 31 crosses and created the second-most chances with 38.
Perez earned Team of the Week honors from the league on five occasions this season.
Somersall and McLaughlin both donned the captain’s armband throughout the season, with McLaughlin doing so in both playoff matches. McLaughlin was also a member of the team’s leadership council.
Somersall appeared in 26 games, logging 1,586 minutes, two goals and three assists, while winning 90 duels and creating 17 chances. The midfielder won 76.3% of his tackles and was named to the USL League One Team of the Week twice.
With the team trailing 1-0 in extra time of the USL League One Championship, Somersall’s hard-hit shot from the top of the box forced the game-tying own goal to set NCFC up to win on penalties. For his efforts, Somersall was named the Final MVP.
McLaughlin started 21 matches and came off the bench in 10 more, logging 1,896 minutes, nine goals and seven assists. He created 37 chances and won 113 duels at a 51.1% success rate. The forward was nominated for USL League One Player of the Month in June and was named to the USL League One Team of the Week five times.
As the team’s captain for the final, McLaughlin hoisted the team’s first league championship trophy and second trophy overall.
North Carolina FC returns to the USL Championship next season. Season tickets are available here.