TAMPA, Fla. – North Carolina FC forward Oalex Anderson has been voted USL League One Player of the Month presented by Konami eFootball for July. Second in the Golden Boot race, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines international is enjoying a breakout campaign in his second season in Cary, totaling four goals in NCFC's second undefeated month of the season.
Extending his most productive professional campaign, Anderson scored four goals in an undefeated 3-0-2 July with NCFC. The 27-year-old forward won 17 duels, six fouls and created a pair of chances. Anderson's 1.43 goals-added mark was the most on the month, according to American Soccer Analysis.
"Consistency - that’s the standard I’ve tried to set for myself all season," Anderson said. "For me, I must be consistent, I can’t afford to mess up, and this award is God's way of saying, 'You’ve worked hard, let me reward you.'
"The team has been undefeated throughout the month; you don’t get voted Player of the Month if your team hasn’t been successful. I'm grateful to my teammates for trusting to pass me the ball and putting me in positions to score goals, and the coaches for having the faith to keep me on the field."
With his four-goal July, Anderson becomes the highest-scoring Caribbean player in League One history with his 23 regular season goals, surpassing 2019 Golden Boot winner and All-League First Team forward Ronaldo Damus. In addition to tying Juan Galindrez and Greg Hurst for fourth-most regular season goals in league history, Anderson's 18 career goals for NCFC match him with Garrett McLaughlin as the highest-scoring active NCFC player.
July's League One Player of the Month crown is the 2016 MLS Cup champion and former USL Championship goalscorer's first such recognition across his nearly decade-long professional career.
"I’m extremely pleased for Oalex winning USL League One Player of the Month, but even more proud of the overall growth of this young man," NCFC Head Coach John Bradford lauded. "He has been incredibly focused throughout the year and has raised levels of his game on both sides of the ball from the first day of preseason.
"He was tremendous for us during the month of July and was 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 final months of the season."
Anderson received 48.1% of a weighted poll that included the USL League One Technical Committee and an online fan vote held at USLLeagueOne.com. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC forward and Golden Boot leader Trevor Amann finished second on 39.3% with his six goals, while Union Omaha forward Steevan Dos Santos finished third on 5.4% with a four-goal-contribution July - his most productive month in a year.
Nominee | Fan Vote | Weight | USL Vote | Weight | Total Vote |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oalex Anderson (NC) | 58% | 34.8% | 33.3% | 13.3% | 48.1% |
Trevor Amann (NCO) | 21% | 12.6% | 66.7% | 26.7% | 39.3% |
Steevan Dos Santos (OMA) | 9% | 5.4% | 0% | 0% | 5.4% |
Bruno Rendón (NCO) | 7% | 4.2% | 0% | 0% | 4.2% |
Kazaiah Sterling (TRM) | 5% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 3% |