Orange County FC forward Alessandro Canale was named the National Premier Soccer League player of the week Thursday.

Canale recorded five goals and three assists in a win over City of Angels FC. He has 18 goals and 11 assits this season..

“I know that this award is always a difficult decision as the NPSL has a very talented pool of players,” Canale said. “It’s an honor to be nominated and much more to win this award. I am dedicating this achievement to my teammates, who have been there with me and for me this season. This would not have been possible without this youthful group. I want to thank the OCFC family and the NPSL for providing a platform for myself and many others to continue to play the game we love while pushing for the next step.”

Added head coach Paul Caligiuri: “It’s an honor to have an OCFC player named as the Mitre national player of the week. The award could not have been given to a better choice than Alessandro Canale. Alessandro is a big-time player with massive skills that allows him to be very creative and compliments his teammates around him.”

The winner is determined by a vote of media members from across the country. It is awarded every week during the regular season.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.