Scoring four of Salem City’s five goals thus far, City’s nine forwards have proven themselves invaluable to this squad. With 16 shots on target in three games, our front line has been giving goalkeepers a run for their money. Despite only being here for a few weeks, Linus Musielak, Amir Simpson, Aaron Garrote, Cameron Letterlough, Fynn Mewes, Guiherme Fontes, Tate Lorentz, Gian-Carlo Kama, and Travis Smith have shown their ability to adapt quickly to produce quality chances on goal. 

Leading the charge is NC State Sophomore, Cameron Letterlough, with three goals. A recent transfer from Chowan University, Letterlough has proven himself time and time again in front of the goal. With 15 goals in 17 games, Letterlough was named to the D2 Conference Commissioner’s All-Region First Team in 2025. Now headed to the D1 National Runner-ups in the fall, Letterlough will look to prove himself on the big stage. 

Second on the goal leaderboard with two goals thus far is Amir Simpson from Blinn College. The rising junior has been a consistent force early in the season for Salem City. Starting his career at Texas A&M San Antonio before transferring to Blinn, Simpson has played 32 games, produced five goals and seven assists over his underclassmen years. 

Fresh off a strong performance versus the Charlotte Eagles, Guiherme Fontes instantly impacted Salem City’s top line in his first game of the season with a goal against Tobacco Road. With impressive speed and composure on the pitch, Fontes is a player you can count on to pressure defenders. Not only is Fontes poised in front of the goal, but he is also a real team player for this City squad. Fontes told us how head coach, Will Lennie, preaches selflessness to the forwards and explained how he believes that to be the key to this team’s success. 

Fynn Mewes spoke of the same idea saying that “we work well together because everybody is really unselfish, nobody wants to be the hero, everybody plays for the team, for the badge.” Throughout the first four games of the season, any spectator can see this in the squad, just how well they work together and want success for the club, not just for themselves. 

Mewes has shown this as well with one assist so far on the season. Coming from Roosevelt University, Mewes played 17 games, produced 11 goals, three assists and an impressive five game-winning goals in 2025. A player with unique experience on the squad, Mewes spent his undergrad years competing in the Westfalenliga 1 league in Germany playing for numerous amateur clubs where he scored a jaw-dropping 51 goals over 106 appearances. 

As one of the many internationals on this 2026 Salem City squad, Mewes boasted about how playing with individuals from diverse backgrounds here in Winston-Salem allows the players to improve their own game by learning from different players. With five out of the nine forwards being international, City’s top line brings immense diversity and styles of play to the table.

Fellow German, Linus Musielak comes to City from UMass Lowell where he produced two goals and three assists in his 2025 junior campaign. With one goal thus far for the team, Musielak leads all forwards with 206 minutes in his first three games of the season. Musielak has already proven himself to be a key member in this top line with his impressive endurance and speed to get in front of almost any ball passed his way. 

Also from Europe are Gian-Carlo Kama and Aaron Garrote. While Kama has been out with hamstring problems, his collegiate career speaks for itself. Splitting his undergrad years between Lincoln-Memorial University and the New College of Florida, Kama scored a total of 29 goals to earn SAC First Team All-Conference honors. Garrote comes to us from Lenoir-Rhyne University where he delivered one goal and four assists in his junior campaign for the bears. 

Rounding out Salem City’s front line is the pair of Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Tate Lorentz and Jeffery White. Lorentz returns to the club following his stint in the TST 7v7 tournament with Drip FC who was knocked out in the round of 32. A key part of this squad, Lorentz’s presence will be much needed for City’s home game vs. Hickory FC on Wednesday, June 3. 

A new face in training this past week, White brings immense experience to this squad. With previous USL 2, MLS Next, and U.S Soccer Development Academy stints, White knows exactly what it takes to succeed at this level. A rising senior, White has spent his entire undergraduate career thus far at Wake Forest with 2524 minutes on the pitch, four goals, and five assists. 

With all nine forwards back with the squad, Salem City will look to defeat the number two team in the South Atlantic Division, Hickory FC. In a crucial home match on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 PM, City will battle over 90 minutes for an essential three points on the leaderboard.