FC Arizona forward Cesar Mexia has won the National Premier Soccer League’s Golden Boot as the league’s top goal-scorer.

Mexia finished the regular season with 18 goals.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” he said. “As a forward, winning the Golden Boot is a goal that you always have on your radar. I want to thank my family, friends, teammates and the whole FC Arizona organization for supporting me.

“This is just a reflection of a complete group performance. The energy, desire, and intensity this team has shown have put us in the position we are right now as a team and as individuals.”

Added FC Arizona owner and general manager Scott Taylor: “Cesar is very deserving of this award. He works hard in training and has done everything the right way on and off the field. He’s exciting to watch, and I am grateful he has been with us for three seasons. I am really impressed by him and all his teammates for what they have accomplished this season.

“Off the field, his personal story is inspiring too. He came to the U.S., worked hard to get his citizenship, buy a house, and get a good job. He is a class act and I am proud of him.”

The Obregón, Sonora, Mexico native has spent the past three seasons with FC Arizona, scoring nine goals in 2017 and 11 goals in 2018. He has also played professionally at Mexican sides Dorados de Sinaloa and Búhos de Hermosillo.

Mexia is also the all-time leading goal-scorer at Paradise Valley Community College.

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.