Hearts of Pine
The Soccer Club of Maine
The regular season is nearing its end, and it’s time for you, the fans, to help select your 2026 player of the year. The winning player will be honored during the end of year team award ceremony thanks to your input.
Voting opens at 12:00pm ET on October 7th and closes at 12:00pm ET on October 15th.
Hearts erase three-goal deficit to earn a point in Spokane
SPOKANE, Wash. — Portland Hearts of Pine turned a difficult first half into one of its most memorable comebacks of the season Saturday night, scoring three unanswered goals after the break to earn a 3-3 draw against Spokane Velocity FC at ONE Spokane Stadium.
The match shifted quickly late in the opening half. Nil Vinyals put Spokane in front in the 38th minute, and Neco Brett doubled the advantage less than a minute later. Andre Lewis added a third in first-half stoppage time, sending Hearts into the locker room facing a 3-0 deficit.
At halftime, the deficit looked daunting. What followed was anything but.
Portland emerged from halftime with a different energy and immediately began pushing the hosts deeper into their own end. Hearts controlled more of the ball, created sustained pressure around the Spokane penalty area and limited the Velocity to just four shots over the final 45 minutes.
The comeback began in the 64th minute. Matteo Kidd delivered a ball into the box and Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile met it in front of goal to pull Hearts within two. Nine minutes later, Aboubacar Camara brought Portland even closer, finishing from the top of the penalty area into the bottom corner to make it 3-2 with plenty of time still on the clock.
From there, Hearts kept coming.
Portland continued to pile on the pressure as the match moved into stoppage time, refusing to let the two-goal burst be the end of the response. Following a late corner, Diogo Barbosa was brought down inside the penalty area, giving Hearts one final opportunity to complete the comeback.
Diego Gonzalez stepped to the spot and buried the penalty deep into stoppage time, leveling the match at 3-3 and completing a three-goal second-half rally.
The final numbers reflected Portland’s response. Hearts finished with 56 percent possession, 15 total shots, seven shots on target and 25 touches inside the Spokane box. After being outshot 10-3 in the opening half, Portland flipped the match after halftime and generated the chances needed to leave Spokane with a point.
The result delivered one of the club’s most dramatic comebacks of the season and another example of a Hearts side unwilling to let a match get away quietly.
Portland now turns its attention to the final stretch of the USL League One season returning home to Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday to take on AC Boise.
New Maine Turnpike Authority sticker tag gives supporters a new way to show their Hearts pride on the road
Portland Hearts of Pine supporters can now bring a little Hearts pride wherever the road takes them.
The Maine Turnpike Authority announced Wednesday the launch of a new Hearts of Pine-branded E-ZPass sticker tag, part of a first-of-its-kind collection featuring New England sports teams.
The Hearts sticker tag is available for $20, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Hearts of Pine Foundation, helping expand the Foundation’s work using soccer to build connections, create opportunities for young people and strengthen communities across Maine.
“Support like this gives the Hearts of Pine Foundation the ability to say yes to more ideas, more partnerships and more communities across Maine,” said Sarah Stickney, Executive Director of the Hearts of Pine Foundation. “What makes this especially meaningful is that something as everyday as driving the Turnpike can now help fuel work that has a lasting impact far beyond the road.”
The new sticker tags offer a smaller alternative to traditional E-ZPass transponders and use passive RFID technology, meaning they do not require an internal battery. The tag adheres directly to a vehicle’s windshield and is automatically deactivated if removed.
“We are constantly looking for smart technology that can improve cost efficiency, reduce our environmental impact, and make travel easier,” said Andre Briere, Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority. “When we can pair those benefits with something creative and personal, it is a win for Maine drivers.”
Take Hearts with you and help support the Hearts of Pine Foundation. Get your tag today!
Hearts of Pine E-ZPass sticker tags are available through the Maine Turnpike Authority:
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland Hearts of Pine fought back from an early two-goal deficit Saturday night, but Sarasota Paradise pulled away for a 4-1 win at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
A nor’easter moving along the Eastern Seaboard had threatened to make for a stormy evening in Portland, but the weather largely held. Despite the forecast, Hearts supporters once again filled Fitzpatrick Stadium to capacity, with fans continuing to stream through the gates as kickoff approached. Aside from a brief spell of rain after halftime, the anticipated storm never materialized, leaving mostly calm conditions for the match.
Sarasota struck almost immediately. Kisa Kiingi opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Sander Roed doubled the advantage just three minutes later.
Portland responded in the 19th minute through Jay Tee Kamara. After battling through several Sarasota defenders, Kamara finished the move to cut the deficit to 2-1 and give Hearts a way back into the match.
The goal helped Portland settle into the game after a difficult opening stretch. Matteo Kidd, making his first start as Hearts captain, helped lead a side dealing with several significant absences, including Ollie Wright through injury and Mo Mohamed and Michel Poon-Angeron called up for international play.
“It’s an absolute honor,” Kidd said of wearing the armband. “I’m just sad that we didn’t get the result tonight. I’m really disappointed personally in myself. I felt like I let a lot of people down today.”
Hearts continued to create chances. Kamara came close again later in the half with a shot that narrowly missed, while Walter Varela and Jaden Jones-Riley combined to help create an opportunity for Diego Gonzalez that was gathered by the Sarasota goalkeeper.
Portland also threatened from a corner, with Gonzalez delivering for Diego Letayf Escutia, whose header went wide.
But Sarasota regained control before the break. Roed struck again in the 42nd minute for his second of the night, sending the visitors into halftime with a 3-1 advantage.
Head Coach Bobby Murphy felt Portland had given itself an opportunity after Kamara’s goal.
“I thought after that, we got back in the game pretty well at 2-1,” Murphy said. “You get to halftime 2-1 and everybody’s tails are up and thinking we’re back in this. And then the game gets away from us.”
Joshua Drack entered for Jones-Riley to begin the second half, but Sarasota added another in the 51st minute when Romain Gall made it 4-1.
Hearts kept looking for a response, with Kamara creating another dangerous opportunity for Varela, whose effort was stopped by the Sarasota goalkeeper.
The night also marked a welcome return for Drack, who saw action after missing the previous two months through injury.
“From day one, I was focused on getting better every day and having no setbacks,” Josh said. “I was targeting this game, so we were right on time. I’m just glad to be able to play soccer again in front of our fans. I missed playing with my teammates.”
Kidd pointed afterward to the decisive stretches that ultimately separated the sides.
“There’s no excuse for that,” Kidd said. “We have to do better in those moments, and that’s just kind of what it comes down to, especially in this league. Moments, moments, moments.”
Mikey Lopez entered for Letayf Escutia in the 64th minute, followed a minute later by Rodriguez-Gentile for Varela. Former Heart Emiliano Terzaghi entered for Sarasota in the 69th minute, marking his return to Fitzpatrick Stadium.
The match grew increasingly physical down the stretch, with several late fouls and cards as frustrations mounted on both sides. Serigne Mbacke Faye was sent off in stoppage time after becoming tangled up in a challenge, leaving Portland to finish the match with 10 men. Brecc Evans was also booked moments later.
Afterward, Murphy took responsibility for the performance while emphasizing what Hearts still owe their supporters over the closing stretch of the season.
“We owe the fans a huge apology tonight,” Murphy said. “It wasn’t a great night to come out and they still turned out, and we turned up like that. I’m embarrassed. I’m responsible for it. There’s always something to play for, and at the very least, people deserve our very best.”
Hearts now turn their focus to the final four matches of the season taking on Spokane next weekend on the road.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Portland Hearts of Pine earned a road point Saturday night in a 1-1 draw with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, with 19-year-old Felipe Rodriguez Gentile scoring his first professional goal to give the Hearts a first-half lead.
Rodriguez Gentile entered the match in the 13th minute after Ollie Wright was forced out through injury and made his opportunity count before halftime. In the 39th minute, Matteo Kidd sent a cross into the area, where Rodriguez Gentile brought the ball under control and drove a left-footed finish into the upper corner to put Portland ahead 1-0.
The Hearts spent much of the opening half dealing with pressure from Chattanooga, particularly on set pieces. The Red Wolves won five corners and three free kicks before halftime, but Portland’s defense and goalkeeper Hunter Morse repeatedly kept the hosts off the board.
Morse produced one of his biggest stops in the closing moments of the half, making a strong save to preserve Portland’s advantage heading into the break.
Chattanooga continued to push in the second half, eventually finishing the night with 10 corner kicks. Morse was again called into action as Portland worked to protect the one-goal lead deep into the match.
The Hearts appeared poised to secure a third consecutive victory before Chattanooga found the equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time. Omar Hernandez received the ball in the middle of the penalty area and slipped a low finish past Morse to make it 1-1.
Portland saw out the remaining minutes to secure a point on the road, extending its unbeaten run to three matches after back-to-back home victories.
The draw leaves the Hearts seven points from the eighth and final playoff position with five matches remaining in the regular season.
Portland returns to Fitzpatrick Stadium next Saturday to face Sarasota Paradise as the Hearts continue their push through the final stretch of the season.
I was out walking my dog Annie (short for Anfield, of course) after the Charlotte game earlier this month. It was the morning after a heartbreaking match, and despite my lack of sleep, Annie knew a walk would do us both good. Out on Willard Beach, we felt the first hints of the cool, crisp air that defines Maine’s fall season.
That autumn air has a way of grounding me. It’s a sharp tinge that almost invites introspection, and memories of growing up here and kicking a ball on days like these. I reflected on what felt like the latest gut punch in a string of hard results. It wasn’t fun to lose the game that way. It hadn’t been fun to not get a result for nearly two months… but for all the hardship on the pitch, the way this city and state continues to show its support for the club never fails to amaze me.
Mainers are the first in the nation to see the light of a new day, we’re the first to get to work when something needs doing, and we’re the first ones to speak up when something isn’t the way it should be. Every club has a rough run of results, and for many, it comes with a sense of fair-weather fandom. We’ve seen the very opposite. We’ve seen a whole lot of love.
Throughout, we’ve kept our eyes clear. Our resilience has been tested, and as results start to turn around, the heart and grit we’ve all come to expect has been embodied on the pitch by every player in a Hearts kit.
The boys of Maine went into that Westchester game with the same ambition they’ve been carrying since that first match in Lewiston: to be a winning club. The mandate has never been to accept what comes our way. It’s to strive to be our absolute best in every part of the organization. And our boys rose to the occasion. We found our footing. Despite the tying goal, it was our boys who took the late lead and all three points.
A week later, in front of another 6,000 roaring fans who’d outlasted the rain, the boys of Maine did it again. A hard fought clean sheet capped off with a match winner in the extra time. That is the way soccer should be.
Now, with six games to go, with everything to play for, and with a community like this behind the club, why not us? Why can’t this team, with a new sense of resolve, keep up this fight through the end of the year?
After all, my hope is that this pursuit of improvement becomes a part of the DNA of this club.
Ray Saari joining the club as Sporting Director gives us a clear vision for improvement on the field. The women’s team is an extension of the dream in itself, and with Michelle Akers as a Founding Advisor, I know that someone of her caliber will set the standard for culture, leadership, and building the foundation of success from the beginning.
Outside our club, youth leagues, high schools, and college players around the state have geared up for the start of their soccer seasons, too – and I hope they see Hearts as a model of the resolve and clear-eyed ambition that helps carry them through the ups and downs of their seasons ahead. I hope this club provides something for them to aspire to be one day. Something I myself never had as a youth player in Maine.
I hope that our women’s team will inspire girls across Maine and beyond to get out on the pitch, to see themselves in this game, and know that there is a place for them in it at every level.
Beyond the wins, losses, and competition, I am constantly reminded of the gratitude I feel to be a part of the community movement. I feel it when I see kids in their Hearts kits, or the seemingly everpresent bumper stickers when I’m driving around town. The calls of “Up the Hearts” from strangers passing by when I wear my Lead With Your Heart hoodie.
These are the clearest reminders of all: this club is bigger than any one result. We’re building a community together that can last generations. Something that creates places for kids to play, for families to gather, for identities to strengthen and gives our communities a reason to be proud. Something that invites us all to lead with our hearts, to be the best versions of ourselves – through thick and thin.
Along the way, projects like the Design FC at King Middle School and the Foundation’s Soccer Project will continue to be a priority. As Ryan Adams paints his mural in the heart of Portland’s downtown–a collective portrait that celebrates this community–I’ve been asked why we’re doing it in the first place.
How we intentionally use our platform and voice to ‘contribute’ has always been core to our reason for being. And as Maine continues to show up for this club, we’ll continue to show up for Maine. UTH.
Gabe Hoffman-Johnson
Study measures the ripple effect of Hearts’ Inaugural Season across Maine
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland Hearts of Pine generated an estimated $16.5 million in economic impact across Maine during the club’s inaugural season, according to a new economic impact study commissioned by the City of Portland.
Prepared by the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute, the study examined the economic activity generated by Portland’s professional sports teams through team operations, visitor spending, and travel by visiting teams. The report found that Hearts of Pine alone supported an estimated 145 jobs across the state in its first year of play.
“The $16.5 million figure reflects an ecosystem that extends well beyond matchday,” said Kevin Schohl, President and Chief Business Officer of Portland Hearts of Pine. “It includes visitor spending, year-round employment, and the economic benefits that extend to local Maine vendors and suppliers that contribute to the club’s success. From the beginning, we’ve been intentional about building Hearts in a way that creates opportunities for local businesses and keeps a lot of that economic activity here in Maine.”
Hearts welcomed 113,386 fans in 2025, the highest attendance in USL League One. In addition to having a strong season ticket base that represents all 16 Maine counties, Hearts of Pine generated economic activity from single-match buyers and tourists, with 36 percent of attendees coming from outside the local market.
That visitor activity is an important part of the economic impact measured in the study. Spending by out-of-area fans includes lodging, food and beverage, retail and local transportation, while team operations capture payroll, facility expenses and spending with Maine-based vendors and suppliers.
The study uses conservative assumptions throughout. Spending by residents living within 50 miles of Portland was excluded from visitor-impact calculations, while tourism spending estimates were informed by data from the Maine Office of Tourism. The analysis also measures the broader ripple effect created as spending moves through local businesses, supply chains and household spending.
“This report gives us a meaningful baseline,” Schohl said. “It reflects what Hearts was able to contribute to Maine with one team, in one season, at a venue where demand consistently exceeded capacity. As we continue to grow, launch our USL W team in 2027 and move forward with plans for a new stadium, we see a significant opportunity to expand that impact for Portland and for the state.”
Looking ahead, Hearts believes the next phase of the club’s growth could significantly increase its economic footprint. A future stadium at Cassidy Point would allow for greater attendance, additional match dates, and expanded opportunities for the women’s team and other community-oriented programming. The club projects the new stadium could generate approximately $30-40 million in annual economic impact for Maine, in addition to the $50 million-plus investment at Cassidy Point that would drive near-term construction activity and employment.
As the club grows, Hearts plan to maintain the local-first approach that has become part of the experience at Fitzpatrick Stadium, continuing to work with Maine food and beverage vendors, merchandise partners, contractors and other local businesses.
The City of Portland’s full Economic Impact of Minor League Sports Teams report can be viewed here.
Mural at 645 Congress Street, just one block from the State Theatre, celebrates the community behind Hearts of Pine.
PORTLAND, Maine — The people who have helped make Hearts of Pine part of Portland are at the center of a new four-story mural now taking shape downtown.
Portland artist Ryan Adams has begun work on a large-scale Hearts of Pine mural at 645 Congress Street, bringing the energy of the club, its supporters and the city to one of downtown Portland’s most visible walls. The project was made possible through a collaboration between Portland Hearts of Pine, Portland Downtown and Jamey Gaston, owner of 645 Congress Street.
Hearts of Pine believes art has an inherent value in strengthening community, reflecting identity and creating a deeper sense of connection to place. Since the club’s earliest days, Hearts has looked for opportunities to support and collaborate with local artists and creatives in ways that extend beyond matchday. The new mural grew naturally from that approach.
“This is a very special moment for our club. This is Hearts of Pine’s first major public art installation, and it’s a direct celebration of the community that has embraced and uplifted this club,” said Josh Lane, Vice President of Marketing for Hearts of Pine. “We’re so grateful to Jamey for welcoming this giant community portrait to 645 Congress Street, to Portland Downtown for their incredible partnership, and of course to Ryan and his team.”
“While the portraits Ryan is painting are of fans in the stands at Fitzpatrick Stadium, this mural is intended to be a portrait of our community, and a celebration of the many ways in which this invitation to ‘lead with our hearts’ has rallied Portland and Maine around a shared love of the place we call home,” Lane said.
The project also depended on a property owner willing to turn a prominent downtown wall into something the entire community could experience.
“We’re very happy to be a part of this project,” said Jamey Gaston, owner of 645 Congress Street. “Hearts has built a phenomenal movement, and the energy they bring to the city made this an undeniable yes for us. We’d also had our eye on Ryan Adams for a while, so we were very happy when he joined the project. The team, the passion and the art all make this a fulfilling investment in our community. I hope it makes people love Portland even more.”
“I’ve collaborated with the Hearts of Pine on a few projects, and each and every time I feel honored to work with such a great team of people that shares my pride in my hometown and has brought so much positivity and good energy into the city,” said Adams.
Bringing a project of this scale to Congress Street carries particular meaning for the Portland native.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to paint some pretty large pieces over the years, so this is not my largest. Although, being the proud townie that I am, having a massive piece downtown on Congress St is indescribable,” Adams said. “The younger, graffiti-obsessed kid that I once was wouldn’t believe this is a real thing. I’m trying not to go too far down that lane until it’s complete, but there are a lot of connections to this act in this particular location that really mean a lot to me.”
Adams uses a VR headset as part of his process to scale the linework to the wall before blocking in colors, blends, cuts and fades with spray paint. The work begins well before paint reaches the building, with weeks spent preparing reference images, selecting colors, estimating paint quantities, coordinating lifts and wall preparation, and making sure the design will remain readable at scale.
“One of the things we talk about a lot at Portland Downtown is ‘turning details into delights,’” said Cary Tyson of Portland Downtown. “Taking a once-blank wall and turning it into a celebration of both community and the thing that brings community together, the beautiful game, is the epitome of turning what was once a detail into an incredible delight. Few things have brought our community together more in recent years than Hearts of Pine. We’ve seen this with our World Cup Watch Parties in Monument Square. Now we’ll get to see it every day in the Arts District. Partnering with Ryan, Hearts and Jamey to make this happen is a thrill.”
The mural will continue taking shape over the next week at 645 Congress Street, giving the community a chance to watch Adams at work as one of downtown Portland’s newest pieces of public art comes to life.
Adams expects the project to be finished on September 24, with a community gathering at 2:00PM-3:00PM at 645 Congress Street to mark its completion. Supporters and community members are invited to see the finished piece and join Hearts of Pine, Adams and project partners for the occasion.
PORTLAND, Maine — The Hearts of Pine found a way to finish the job Sunday night, scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time to defeat AV Alta FC 1–0 in front of 6,194 fans at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
After rain fell throughout the day and stopped roughly an hour before kickoff, the Hearts and their supporters were greeted by cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Despite the weather, the crowd brought plenty of energy from the opening whistle.
Alta came out with early pressure, forcing Portland to spend much of the opening 15 minutes defending. Hearts goalkeeper Hunter Morse kept the match scoreless in the 12th minute, stepping forward to block a close-range shot inside the box before Portland cleared the resulting corner.
The Hearts gradually began to find more opportunities as the half continued. Diego Gonzalez came close with a powerful free kick in the 34th minute that was saved by the Alta goalkeeper, while Jay Tee Kamara narrowly missed with a low shot in the 42nd minute after carrying the ball forward from midfield.
Portland continued to defend well through the final minutes of the half, including a late Alta attack following a corner, sending the match into halftime scoreless.
The Hearts came out with more attacking pressure after the break. An early free kick created a dangerous sequence inside the Alta box, while another strong passing sequence in the 63rd minute allowed Portland to move the ball forward with some of its best combination play of the night.
Kamara later came close again, firing a shot over the crossbar as the Hearts continued searching for the opening goal.
As the match entered its final 15 minutes, the intensity continued to build. Portland created one of its best chances in the 75th minute when Kamara combined with a teammate before sending a cross into the box. The Alta goalkeeper punched the ball away and then recovered to make another save on the follow-up attempt.
With the match still scoreless, the crowd continued to push the Hearts forward.
Portland continued to create chances late. A blocked shot in the 83rd minute fell back into the box, where another Hearts header came just inches from finding the net. Another free kick and corner followed as the Hearts continued to apply pressure.
Seven minutes of stoppage time were eventually added, giving Portland one final opportunity to find the breakthrough.
That moment finally came in the fourth minute of added time.
A perfectly placed corner was sent toward the back right side of the box, where defender Serigne Faye rose above the defense and headed the ball down and into the net.
The stadium erupted.
“I don’t think I felt something like that yet in my career, so it was amazing. That connection was instant,” said Hearts’ newest team member Diego Letayfe Escutia.
The goal sent players and supporters into celebration as the Hearts finally broke through after more than 90 minutes of pressure. The roar from the 6,194 fans was one of the loudest of the season, capping a night in which the Portland supporters continued to sing, chant and bang the drums despite the difficult stretch the team had been going through.
“I am happy, but it’s not only me, it’s for the team,” said Faye. “And the fans come to support the team every game. This win is for us. This win is for the city.”
Portland still had to survive a pair of late Alta free kicks, but the Hearts defense held firm to secure the 1–0 victory.
“We talk about little moments, and you keep putting enough little moments on top of each other, you end up getting the big moment, which is the win at the end,” said Coach Bobby Murphy.
For a team that had endured a difficult stretch, the late winner provided another important home result and gave the Hearts their second straight victory at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
“I think it felt like us from the start,” said Murphy. “We have a point where we want to play, we want to smother people, we want to give them no space, make it hard, and then go. Tonight felt like that.”
The Hearts will look to carry the momentum from Sunday’s win into the final stretch of the season, beginning with a road match at Chattanooga next weekend.
