It's been a trying start for Portland Hearts of Pine, who sit 11th in the table with a 1-1-3 record.

Circumstances play a role, as the team had two preseason games canceled due to weather and dealt with a string of injuries. They're still struggling to get healthy, though they're getting better.

"We're pretty close to healthy," head coach Bobby Murphy said on Wednesday. "But something can change today."

Through it all, Murphy remains upbeat.

"I'm optimistic," Murphy said. "It's been hard. We've had to chop and change [with] injuries and never knowing who's available week to week. Finding consistency has been difficult. Finding who my best 11 is and what shape [is best] has been difficult."

Hearts faced a major blow when Masashi Wada hit the turf with a serious ankle injury in the home opener against One Knoxville on April 11.

Losing the Japanese midfielder, who was a member of the 2025 USL League One All-League First Team, has created another obstacle.

"He had nine goals last year, and he had the highest expected assists in the league," Murphy said. "That's a huge thing to replace. I just don't know that you do it fully, certainly not like-for-like.

"I think Sashi is such a chameleon as a player. He can press from the front, he can drop in and play, he's got goals in him. There aren't many players in the league like him."

A key factor in compensating for the loss is identifying individuals who can produce goals. Hearts had three in their season opener (Konstantinos Georgallides, Wada, and Aboubacar Camara), but were shut out in their next four games.

Ollie Wright scored in the 1-1 draw against FC Naples on Apr. 19, while Esteben Espinosa and Wright struck in the 2-2 USL Cup game on Apr. 25 that saw Westchester SC secure an extra point in penalties.

"I feel for Ollie at times because he works hard, and it looks like he's the only one who's going to score for us," Murphy said. "We've got to have other guys step up who want to score goals and take chances."

Hearts do have players who can find the back of the net.

Titus Washington is a second-year professional who collected five goals in 2025. Murphy noted that "he's battling through some stuff" and that "hopefully he's on the mend a little bit now."

"You never question Titus' work ethic or his willingness," Murphy said. "[Jordan] Skelton [from One Knoxville], who was All League, after the game said he hates playing against Titus, but he loves him. He'll bang, and he'll run.

"I think Titus just has to bring that last little bit, which is that end product, the thing he struggled with last year. He's had chances this year. He just needs to, hopefully, finish one and get the confidence going now."

Emiliano Terzaghi, a three-time USL League One Golden Boot winner (2020, 2021, 2022), is another option. The striker still has a nose for the goal, even at 33.

"I think we have to minimize Emi's efforts in other areas," Murphy said. "His legs are a little bit older, but you can't teach his experience and his movement in the box, his ability to finish.

"If we can get the people around him to do a lot of the work and keep him between the two center backs [then the goals will come]."

Josh Drack's arrival will also help the attack. A midfielder in college, Murphy witnessed Drack's first game at left back during a college showcase in Kansas City.

Drack went on to play for the LA Galaxy, Huntsville City, and Charleston Battery. Hearts jumped on the opportunity to add him when he became available from Westchester.

"He gives us something that we sort of lost when Nathan [Messer] left, which is an attacking presence on that side, someone who can combine with Ollie and bring the best out of him," Murphy said.

The two, who also played together at Huntsville, combined for a goal in Drack's Hearts debut, which unfortunately came to an early end due to a concussion.

"Josh said he was Ollie's best friend, and Ollie said Josh is in his top five, so they're somewhere, they're tight," Murphy said.

Murphy explained that they're "high on the group" and that there's "a lot of talent." It's about getting everyone healthy and "finding out how it meshes together."

The centerback position provides an example.

Brecc Evans, a member of the 2025 USL League One All-League Second Team, is an experienced, left-footed defender. Serigne Mbacke Faye is "a really, really good defender, great in the air, a threat on set pieces," while Kemali Green "is probably our best passer on the team."

The question is, how do you use all of these players? Murphy even said, "Moving some pieces around to accommodate all three of them is a possibility as well."

"Kema can probably play in midfield," Murphy explained. "There's a possibility of going three at the back. Having Josh now and Jaden [Jones-Riley] coming back, you do have some wing-back profiles. I think it just gives us more options."

While it hasn't been the start they've wanted, Hearts have only lost one league game, and there's still plenty of time to rise in the standings. Last year's run to the semifinals was prompted by a 6-0-2 stretch that started in August.

Of course, Hearts, who want to host a playoff game this year, don't want to leave it until the end of the year.

"We need guys who want to grind right now until this all calms down, and we get everybody healthy," Murphy said. "We need people who want to grind out results and suffer."

The next opportunity for three points comes on Saturday when they host the New York Cosmos. Kick off is set for 5 pm.