Salem City FC has begun its season with an unbeaten record (1-0-1) through two USL League Two games and a preseason friendly less than two weeks ago. Each game, with drastically different scorelines, has held valuable insight into how the Beast play and what the season is shaping up to look like. 

So, with three games under the belt, here are key takeaways from each of the early matchups to better assess the start to Salem City’s 2025 campaign. 

Friendly – Mint Hills

It’s easy to write off Salem City’s friendly against Mint Hill as a typical “tune-up game,” but beneath the surface, the preseason matchup was vital. 

The club’s players didn’t arrive on the first day of practice until May 7th, three days before kickoff. Barely knowing players’ names, let alone playstyles, Salem City’s 3-0 victory over Mint Hill was a testament to the instant chemistry the club produced. 

It’s a detail that head coach Chris Williams and his staff ironed out over the summer when they recruited players. Along with talent, Williams searched for competitors who believed in collective effort and togetherness. 

“We tried to match the values of the club to the values of the players that we recruited,” Williams said. “So they know when they’re coming into the environment, that’s what it’s going to be.” 

Over those four days of training, however, players did everything possible to gel as a team. On the pitch, and off it. 

According to starting goalkeeper Sean Bohan, he’s built a bond with his backline of defenders through interactions off the field. Things like pickleball, meals after practice and conversations around the locker room have built those connections. 

“The biggest thing is developing a relationship outside of football for me,” Bohan said. “I feel like people can’t respect you if you don’t have a relationship outside of it… and I want to get to know everyone, so that’s an important thing.” 

Game 1 – Charlotte Eagles

With the first official USL2 game postponed due to rain, Salem City welcomed the Charlotte Eagles on May 17th to open the season. The Beast came from down one at halftime to win 2-1 by the final whistle thanks to Tate Lorentz’s penalty kick in the 88th minute. 

Salem City showed plenty of fight in the second half of its season opener, but more than that, the club revealed how deep it can be with impactful substitutions, which changed the course of the game. 

A handful of changes in the second half, including Lorentz, whose number was called at halftime, allowed Salem City to create opportunities lacking in the first. Only two minutes after the break, Lorentz’s shot from outside the box allowed Shane Anderson to follow up the rebound and score. 

Then, in the 88th, Lorentz drew a penalty and converted the kick to lift Salem City past Charlotte. 

“We talked at the start of the game about how important the subs were going to be,” Williams said. “We said the finishers were going to win us the game, and they did.”

A few subs across the backline also helped strengthen the defense and blank the Eagles in the second half to secure the win. 

“That’s what’s so special about this team, the depth we have,” Anderson said. “The level of play just doesn’t drop when we have subs.” 

Game 2 – North Carolina FC

In all three games to start the season, one thing has remained consistent — Anderson’s name in the box score. 

The center forward, who played his collegiate soccer at Purdue Fort Wayne last season, has scored four goals in three games. He tallied two goals in Salem City’s friendly against Mint Hill, an equalizing goal against the Charlotte Eagles to start the second half comeback and the equalizer that helped SCFC draw against North Carolina FC, 1-1, on Wednesday. 

“His movement in the box is excellent, and he just seems to find himself in the right positions as a striker,” Williams said. “You can teach strikers a lot of different things, but having that instinct to arrive in certain key areas at times is all the player.”

Though the competition for the number nine spot is fierce, Anderson’s production continues to cement his play as center forward. Strikers Colton Sessoms and Daniel Martinez have come in for Anderson and other strikers, but with only one true center forward position up for grabs, it makes the training ground a lot more intense. 

“[Anderson] makes it very difficult for us to go with another striker, even though the two other strikers have actually played well in games as well,” Williams said. “But we need players pushing one another in order to get better and I know Daniel and Colton are going to be pushing Shane daily.” 

Next Up

Salem City FC will be back in action on Saturday night to face Wake FC at home. Kickoff is slated for 7 PM at Truist Sports Park.