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Portland Hearts of Pine

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Portland Hearts of Pine
Full namePortland Hearts of Pine
Nickname(s)The Hearts[1]
Short namePOR
FoundedSeptember 7, 2023; 21 months ago (2023-09-07)
StadiumFitzpatrick Stadium
Portland, Maine
Capacity5,500 [2]
Coordinates43°39′29″N 70°16′36″W / 43.65802°N 70.27668°W / 43.65802; -70.27668
OwnerGabe Hoffman-Johnson; Jonathan and Catherine Culley; Tom Caron
PresidentKevin Schohl
Head coachBobby Murphy
LeagueUSL League One
Websiteheartsofpine.com
Current season

The Portland Hearts of Pine is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Maine. First announced in 2023, the team plays in USL League One. Their home field is Fitzpatrick Stadium.

History

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Founding

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On September 7, 2023, the United Soccer League announced that the city of Portland, Maine, had been awarded a USL League One expansion team which would start play in the 2025 season. Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, a former soccer player at Dartmouth College and a standout at nearby Falmouth High School, was announced as the club founder, with the ownership group including local real-estate developers Jonathan and Catherine Culley and NESN broadcaster Tom Caron, a native of Lewiston, Maine.[3]

On April 22, 2024, Kevin Schohl, a former vice president at DraftKings and former executive with AMB Sports and Entertainment, the owner of Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC, was hired as president and chief business officer.[4]

On September 19, 2024, the team announced that a League One-record 96% of its season ticket deposits had been purchased.[5]

The club named St. Louis City 2 coach Bobby Murphy the team's inaugural head coach and sporting director on November 14, 2024.[6] The club's first player, Trinidadian midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron, was signed on December 17, 2024.[7] The club signed Maine native and Lewiston High School alumnus Khalid Hersi on January 8, 2025.[8]

The team's mascot is Moxie the Moose,[9] a nod to Moxie, the official soft drink of Maine since 2005.[10]

Inaugural season

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The club played its first ever competitive match, a 4–0 victory over CD Faialense of the Bay State Soccer League in the U.S. Open Cup, on March 20, 2025.[11] The club's first ever goal was scored in the 18th minute by Walter Varela.[11] The match was played at Lewiston High School due to ongoing renovations at Fitzpatrick Stadium. A second U.S. Open Cup match was played at Lewiston High School against USL Championship team Hartford Athletic on April 2. After ending regulation time scoreless, the Hearts were reduced to ten men after an Azaad Liadi red card in the 96th minute, and went down, 1–0, to a 107th minute Hartford goal through Jordan Scarlett. In the 117th minute, Jake Keegan equalized for the Hearts, sending the match to a penalty shoot-out. The Hearts converted all four penalties while Hartford missed two, sending the Hearts through to the third round of the Open Cup in an upset.[12] They were eliminated in the following round after a 2–1 defeat to Rhode Island FC.[13]

The team's first league match was a 0–0 draw on the road against FC Naples on March 29, 2025.[14] After another 0–0 draw at Spokane Velocity, the club's first goal in league play was scored by captain Patrick Langlois in the club's third league match, a 2–1 defeat to Tormenta FC in Statesboro, Georgia.[15]

On April 30, the Hearts of Pine announced that they had sold out their inaugural match at Fitzpatrick Stadium.[16] The match, played on May 4 and attended by Governor Janet Mills, was a 1–1 draw for the Hearts of Pine against One Knoxville SC.[17] Knoxville's Stuart Ritchie scored the first goal at Fitzpatrick Stadium in the second minute, while Masashi Wada scored the first Hearts of Pine goal at Fitzpatrick in first half stoppage time.[18] Two weeks later, the Hearts of Pine celebrated their first League One victory, a 2–1 win over FC Naples at Fitzpatrick Stadium.[19]

Club crest and colors

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The club's Hearts of Pine nickname and crest were unveiled on April 27, 2024.[20][21] The crest features a pine tree, waves, and a heart inside of the starburst featured on the Seal of Maine.[22] The font for "Portland" was inspired by the Portland Company building on Portland's waterfront, and the scroll bearing "Hearts of Pine" is a nod to Maine's literary tradition.[23][24]

The inaugural home jersey was unveiled on November 21, 2024, during a sold-out event at the State Theatre in Portland attended by Maine Governor Janet Mills.[25][26] The inaugural home jersey, dubbed the "Woods and Water Kit," features forest green and navy blue hoops with red accents on the collar and sleeve cuffs.[27]

The club's inaugural road jersey, nicknamed the "Bandit Kit," was released on February 11, 2025. The kit is white with red hearts in a polka dot pattern, and has navy blue sleeve and collar cuffs.[28]

The club released two goalkeeper kits for its inaugural season: a red primary keeper with a brick motif, nicknamed the "Brick Wall Kit", and a blue secondary keeper kit, designed to look like the Welcome to Maine signs at the state's borders, called the "Welcome to Maine Kit."[29]

Sponsorship

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Seasons Shirt manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2025–present[25] Denmark Hummel Front: Maine Office of Tourism
Sleeve: L.L.Bean (home)
The Dempsey Center (away)
Brickyard Hollow (primary keeper)
Trellis Health (secondary keeper)

Current roster

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As of March 18, 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Hunter Morse
2 DF United States USA Jaden Jones-Riley
3 DF England ENG Nathan Messer
4 DF Finland FIN Samuel Mahlamäki Camacho
5 MF United States USA Mikey Lopez
6 MF Australia AUS Patrick Langlois (captain)[30]
7 DF United States USA Sean Vinberg
8 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Michel Poon-Angeron
9 FW United States USA Azaad Liadi (on loan from Lexington SC)
10 MF England ENG Ollie Wright
11 FW United States USA Evan Southern
12 FW United States USA Jake Keegan
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW United States USA Titus Washington
17 MF United States USA Mickey Reilly
19 DF Costa Rica CRC Shandon Wright
21 DF Puerto Rico PUR Colby Quiñones
22 FW Cape Verde CPV Walter Varela
23 GK United States USA Kashope Oladapo
47 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Nathaniel James
50 DF Kenya KEN Mo Mohamed
66 DF Jamaica JAM Kemali Green
77 MF Japan JPN Masashi Wada
80 MF Sierra Leone SLE Jay Tee Kamara
90 MF United States USA Khalid Hersi

Staff

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Position Name
Founder United States Gabe Hoffman-Johnson
President United States Kevin Schohl
Director of Soccer Operations United States James Hilepo
Head coach
Sporting director 		United States Bobby Murphy
Assistant coach England Alex Ryan
Goalkeeping coach United States Yuta Nomura

Supporters

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The official supporters group is Dirigo Union, an organization founded before the club.[17] Dīrigō (Latin "I direct" or "I lead") is the state motto of Maine.

Stadium

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The team plays on Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, negotiating a five-year lease in 2023. The stadium has 6,300 seats. The team funded the installation of a new artificial turf field, which eliminated the Portland High School Bulldogs logo and the sewn-in lines. The team agreed to pay to have the lines painted and removed as needed by the school sports schedule.[31]

Due to renovations at Fitzpatrick, the team played its first three U.S. Open Cup matches in Lewiston at Lewiston High School's Don Roux Field.

References

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  1. ^ "Maine's first pro soccer team reveals new name, logo". News Center Maine. April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hearts of Pine close to selling out of tickets for inaugural season". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  3. ^ "Portland, Maine granted USL League One franchise". September 7, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "USL to Portland names Kevin Schohl president, Governor declares "Maine Day of Soccer"". April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine Sets USL League One Record with 96% Sold". BVM Sports. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine Name Bobby Murphy First Coach in Club History". Hearts of Pine. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine ink Michel Poon-Angeron as inaugural signing". USL League One. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine: First Mainer signs to team ahead of inaugural season". newscentermaine.com. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine v Rhode Island FC: Third Round - 2025 U.S. Open Cup". Getty Images. April 15, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Office of the Revisor of Statutes (2005). "Title 1, Section 224 of General Provisions: Seal, Motto, Emblems and Flags". State House of Maine. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Portland Hearts of Pine: Forward Varela scores team's first ever goal on birthday". newscentermaine.com. March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  12. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine stun USL Championship side Hartford Athletic to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup | Goal.com Singapore". www.goal.com. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Craig, Steve (April 16, 2025). "Rhode Island FC ousts Hearts of Pine in U.S. Open Cup". Press Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Hearts of Pine Hold League Leaders to Draw on Road in Debut Match". Hearts of Pine. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  15. ^ Macomber, Seth. "Portland Hearts of Pine v. Tormenta: Three Thoughts". www.theblazingmusket.com. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  16. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine's first home match sold out". newscentermaine.com. April 30, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Lazarczyk, Travis (May 5, 2025). "In Portland debut, Hearts of Pine look like a winner for Maine". Press Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Match Center | USLLeagueOne.com". www.uslleagueone.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  19. ^ Craig, Steve (May 17, 2025). "Hearts of Pine claim their first USL League One win". Press Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  20. ^ "USL League One unveils brand reveal of Portland Hearts of Pine - and it may well be the best crest in North American soccer | Goal.com US". www.goal.com. April 27, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "How do you feel about the name of Maine's new pro soccer team, the Portland Hearts of Pine?". Mainebiz. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Emerson, Anthony (April 28, 2024). "Hearts of Pine: Portland's First Pro Soccer Club". Uni Watch. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  23. ^ Ashton, Alex (May 21, 2024). "USL League One 2025 Expansion Updates". Beyond The 90'. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Bonifant, Drew (April 27, 2024). "Portland men's pro soccer team unveils new name: Hearts of Pine". The Press Herald. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Portland Hearts of Pine Unveil Inaugural Home Jersey at State Theatre". Portland Hearts of Pine. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine release first jersey design". newscentermaine.com. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  27. ^ ""Keeping It Local" — Portland Hearts of Pine Launch Their First Kit". Uni Watch. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  28. ^ "Portland Hearts of Pine Release 'Bandit' Kit". Hearts of Pine. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  29. ^ "Keeper Kits". Hearts of Pine SC. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  30. ^ Macomber, Seth (March 24, 2025). "Hearts of Pine Notebook: Messer's Free Kick, Captain Pat, And Praise For Fans". Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  31. ^ "After lengthy debate, Portland pro soccer team will replace turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium". Maine Public. October 8, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
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