The tiny locker room at Lewingston High School holds a special memory for Mikey Lopez, who was drafted in the first round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting KC and later played alongside Andrea Pirlo at New York City FC.

Down a goal and a man, first-year club Portland Hearts of Pine forced penalties against Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship when rookie Evan Southern found veteran Jake Keagan on the break. Keagan chipped the goalkeeper to send over 3,000 people into a frenzy.

Hearts went on to win 4-2 in penalty kicks to advance in the U.S. Open Cup. The post-game pandemonium–which included banging metal lockers–still brings a smile to Lopez’s face.

"I forgot how fun this is," Lopez remembers telling his wife after the game. "This is what it's about. This is the family that I've been looking for for a while."

Lopez was among the first signings announced for Hearts, though he joined under precarious circumstances, having undergone surgery in January 2024 to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Two months later, he was under the knife again.

He returned to the field after 518 days, coming off the bench to secure a scoreless draw against FC Naples. It was a momentous occasion, but Lopez still felt off. 

Even wearing the captain’s armband–something he had been doing for the Birmingham Legion since 2019–felt different.

“I didn't feel like myself playing-wise, and I didn't feel like I deserved [being captain], just based off my playing, and how I felt emotionally and psychologically within myself,” Lopez said. “It just felt weird for a little bit. 

“Once I started regaining myself, being within myself, it became more comfortable, and I felt like, yeah, this belongs on me now, this is a part of me, and this is who I am.”

Lopez received compliments throughout the season from his teammates and head coach Bobby Murphy. Murphy, who has known Lopez since he was a teenager, explained, “He embodies everything we want to be.”

Physically, Lopez explained that the first third of the season was spent testing what his body could do. He felt more comfortable with time, ultimately making 31 League One appearances, the fourth most of the team, before being named the league’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Now, he’s feeling strong as he prepares for Hearts’ second campaign.

“They always say second year is usually the stronger year for people coming off of Achilles, so hopefully that remains true for me this year,” Lopez said.

JayTee Kamara scored two minutes into extra time to give Hearts a 2-1 lead over Spokane Velocity FC in the USL League One Semifinals. The home side equalized in the 121st minute, sending the game to penalties.

A save from Hunter Morse reignited hope that Hearts could play for the championship in their inaugural season, but opposing goalkeeper Carlos Merancio made two stops to prevent a storybook ending.

While there was disappointment, there was also recognition that a sturdy foundation had been set.

Several players will return for season two, including Ollie Wright, Nathan Messer, Kemali Green, Hunter Morse, and Masashi Wada.

Lopez called Wright, who won the team’s Golden Boot Award, “pretty much unplayable” at the end of the season. Messer was “solid year-round” while Green, a first-year pro, “got better as the season went on.”

Morse made saves that “kept us in so many games,” and Wada showcased “how technically gifted he is.”

As a whole, Lopez was impressed with everyone on the Hearts squad.

“It’s just a testament to Bobby and the rest of the coaching staff for how they recruited players and what they were looking for,” Lopez said.

Hearts will welcome new faces when training camp opens in approximately a week. Lopez believes that Brecc Evans, who made the USL League One Second Team last year, will be “a major boost,” while two-time league MVP Emiliano Terzaghi is “a proven goalscorer.”

Murphy will once again be on the sidelines. Reuniting with the man who coached him at St. Stephen's Episcopal School has been a pleasure for Lopez. He said that Murphy is still great at managing people and still uses many of the same phrases.

“I always remember him saying that it’s all connected,” Lopez said when asked for a memorable Murphy saying. “If you pull an asshair out of your ass, your eyes will start to tear. It’s all connected.”

One thing that has shifted is tactics. Lopez recalls Murphy deploying a more possession-based system when he was younger. Now, he emphasizes the high press with quick transitions.

“I love it because it’s kind of the way I’ve always played, and I think it’s a really good way of playing in the league,” Lopez said.

Year two of Hearts brings additional pressure, but it’s something that Lopez welcomes. He views a home playoff game as a primary goal.

“You should feel a little bit more pressure, because we built the foundation, now we know what we can do, and now we know what we should be doing,” Lopez said. 

“But I think it's a good type of pressure, because it makes us more aware. We already set the standard, and now we know if we're playing below standard, or we're meeting the standard, or we're playing above the standard.”

Lopez wasn’t sure what to expect when he decided to move to Portland, ME. The first games showed that the passion was there, but the summer games proved that it was real.

While warmer temperatures provided locals with more options, they continued to flock to Fitzpatrick Stadium to support Hearts.

“I think that was the moment where everyone realized we're in a really special place, and we're very, very fortunate to be here,” Lopez said.

Everything about the club felt organic and intentional. Lopez recalls getting goosebumps when witnessing the Heartbeat clap, followed by the singing of the Ghost of Paul Revere’s “The Ballad of the 20th Maine.” Both pregame traditions permeate throughout the stadium.

“I get a lot of people hitting me up and saying, ‘Yo, the stuff that you guys are doing is unreal,” Lopez explained. “I'm like, ‘It's so much better than what it looks.’ Being in it, it's really amazing.”

What’s most incredible is that fan engagement, spearheaded by the Dirigo Union, continues to grow. The supporters’ group, which has over 1,000 paying members, has already accomplished a lot, including organizing community events, painting three tifos, and setting the game-day vibes with its 30-person band and endless supply of smoke.

Attending the Dirigo Union’s annual town hall meeting served as a reminder of how lucky Hearts players are.

“They're doing everything possible to make it better,” Lopez said. “I don't know how they're going to do it, because it was top class last year.

"It's just special, the things that they do, and what the club is doing. It was really cool seeing how passionate everyone is for the club and what they’re doing to make everyone feel included.”

The experiences Lopez had in 2025 leave him “super happy” and make him “want to play forever,” but, at 32, he admits he’s thought about his legacy in Maine.

Some of that has already been established, as Hearts’ launch was a success both on and off the field, but Lopez wants more.

He saw the magnitude of winning a trophy at the University of South Carolina at Chapel Hill and Sporting KC, and hopes to do the same with Hearts.

“I want to be a part of that team that wins a trophy for Portland, for Maine, and for this club,” Lopez said. “It is something that I think about, because it's something that'll be there forever.”

The notion of winning another championship is appealing to him, but it’s not his sole reason for playing. His interactions with teammates, coaches, and community members all provide value.

Just this year, Lopez linked up with Neil Carroll to discuss bringing a soccer team to Maine that would provide girls with more opportunities.

Lopez, who wore a “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” hat during our interview, has taken on the role of Director of Operations for A.C. Maine.

“I think it’s amazing,” Lopez said. “I think it's really smart, and I think it's a good opportunity for girls, because the future is in girls' sports. There's more and more investment in girls' sports.”

Lopez feels at home in Maine because of how the club and community have embraced him. 

When asked whether he could see himself settling down here, Texas-born Lopez said his wife would love it, and he might have to work on getting his family to move north.

"It could be a forever home, but we'll see," Lopez said. "We'll see what the future holds."

For now, Lopez is just full of gratitude toward everyone who makes Hearts what it is, including Murphy, club founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, and the fans.

After a 2024 spent on the sidelines recovering from two surgeries, Lopez spent 2025 full of joy. He wants more of that in 2026.