Portland Hearts of Pine Soccer Club
When considering candidates for “the most Maine thing ever,” plenty of hopefuls spring to mind: lobster rolls, lighthouses, L.L.Bean boots. But now there’s a new contender rooted in grit, resilience and place: the Portland Hearts of Pine.
The Hearts (as they’re known to their fans and friends) are the state’s only professional soccer club (part of the USL League One), and they have joined the ranks of Maine’s sports teams in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. Just like the forests and coastline that shape life here, the club is carving out an identity built on strength, inclusivity and connection. The season runs from March through October, with season and single-match tickets selling out quickly. See the 2026 schedule to watch a game.
United by Soccer
In the U.S., soccer may trail behind football, basketball and baseball, but around the globe, it’s the ultimate unifier — a game that transcends language, culture and circumstance. It was exactly this spirit that team founder and Chief Community Officer Gabe Hoffman-Johnson hoped to cultivate in Maine. “Soccer, social good and an unrelenting desire to make a difference,” he says, “are sort of who I am.”
That vision has taken root. With players hailing from a range of backgrounds — including co-captain Michel Poon-Angeron of Trinidad and Lewiston native Khalid Hersi — the roster mirrors the diversity and determination of Maine’s own communities. Together, they bring the world’s game to one of the nation’s most tightly knit states.
Lead with Your Heart
The team’s motto, Lead With Your Heart, is more than a tagline — it’s a way of being. From the start, every choice has reflected Maine’s landscapes and traditions. The very name Hearts of Pine honors both the state’s iconic conifer and Portland’s legendary Valentine’s Day Bandit, Kevin Fahrman, who filled the city with paper hearts for decades. The uniforms tell the same story: the “Woods & Water Kit” banded in deep green and ocean blue, and the “Bandit Kit” splashed with hearts — both backed by the Maine Office of Tourism and Maine’s own L.L.Bean. It is design as storytelling, and it places Maine’s identity at the center of the game.
Inclusion as a Way of Life
The team’s impact stretches far beyond the pitch, bringing together people from all walks of life. At Fitzpatrick Stadium, you can cheer the Hearts while slurping oysters from Lady Shuckers, who source from women-owned sea farms. Food trucks rotate in, amplifying Maine’s culinary creativity. Matches even celebrate international friendships — like the revival of cross-border camaraderie with Halifax during the club’s first International Friendly.
Just as Maine’s landscapes have always shaped the resilience of its people, the Hearts are shaping opportunities for the next generation. Programs like the Portland Soccer Project foster social and emotional growth for local kids, while the Community Ticketing Program ensures that students — including those experiencing homelessness — can stand in the roar of the crowd and feel a sense of belonging.
Future Forward
In their first season alone, the Hearts sold out every seat, earned recognition from AdAge as the “buzziest new team in U.S. soccer,” and captured the imagination of fans across the state.
Maine is no stranger to hard work, resilience and community spirit. The Hearts of Pine simply channel those same qualities through the world’s most beloved game. Forged by nature and carried forward by people, this team is proof that in Maine, sport isn’t just about winning. It’s about belonging.