Hearts Players Experience Personal Growth During Inaugural Season
"It makes you proud to see them grow up, and turn into men a little bit, and look after each other, and care for each other, and play hard for each other, and take advantage of this great opportunity"
It was a year of growth for Portland Hearts of Pine.
The club brought together 24 players and a technical staff to build a soccer community. Between 18 sold-out games at Fitzpatrick Stadium, 150 community events, and an inspiring playoff run, it’s safe to say they did that.
While the club fell short of lifting a championship—something they’re keen on—the growth experienced is another indicator of success.
Titus Washington was the team’s co-Rookie of the Year, collecting five goals in 28 appearances. He became more dangerous as the season went on, understanding when to hold up the ball and when to run behind.
“Titus really grew up before your eyes,” head coach Bobby Murphy explained to The Blazing Musket.
Kemali Green, the other Hearts Rookie of the Year, provided a steady presence at centerback.
Green played the “second half of the year with torn cartilage in his knee,” which requires off-season surgery.
Murphy stated that the 25-year-old “was really brave” during his first year as a professional, which is no easy task since training and game-day expectations differ from what he encountered at Temple University.
“He would say, ‘I’d walk out, and I knew I was the best player on the field, and it was no problem. Now to have to come out and prove it, and fight, it was all new to him,” Murphy said.
First-year players often hit a wall because the professional season is much longer than the collegiate one. Murphy said that Green found comfort once he verbalized how he was feeling.
Playing alongside Sean Vinberg and Sega Coulibaly, both experienced defenders, also aided Green’s development.
“I think he’s grown up a lot,” Murphy said. “He’s one of those guys who reads the game really well, and so he gets there just in the nick of time at times, but we talked about that he needs to be a little bit more of a lion at times, you know? Like, a little more physical. I think he’ll grow into that.”
Even experienced players grew during their first year in Portland.
Ollie Wright, who led Hearts in goals (11) and assists (8), “would always have a place to play because he catches the eye,” according to Murphy.
While his on-field talent is undeniable, Murphy spoke more about his leadership.
Earlier this year, Wright was subbed off after a quiet performance. His mood didn’t dampen, however, as he became the team’s “leading cheerleader on the bench,” according to Murphy.
Moments like that reveal a lot about the 26-year-old.
“He’s really grown into a bit of a leader, and bought into the full responsibilities of being a pro,” Murphy said. “I think that’s huge.”
For Masashi Wada, Portland was a place of rebirth.
A product of the Yokohama F. Marinos Academy, expectations were high for the midfielder, who was often compared to Keita Endo. The two players grew up together and ended up playing in the J League.
Pressure mounted throughout Wada’s career to the point that he considered retirement. Coming to the United States sparked a new love for the game.
“His mom pulled me when she came to visit from Japan, and in her very best English she could muster, [she said] she was so happy that her son was here,” Murphy said. “I think that’s the big thing for him, right, is that he’s gotten another chance at his career and to do it in a way that he’s happy playing.”
Murphy is excited to see what Wada can do after a full preseason with Hearts, noting, “He sees the game really well, his feet are unbelievable.”
So many other players could be mentioned.
Nathan Messer went from making four appearances with Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship to being named to the USL League One All-League First Team.
Stuck between USL Next Pro and MLS, Hunter Morse found a home in Maine, leading the league in saves.
Leaving Trinidad and Tobago allowed Michel Poon-Angeron to find peace, a quality reflected in his play. His typical midfield partner, Mikey Lopez, recovered from a serious injury to help lead a young team.
“It makes you proud to see them grow up, and turn into men a little bit, and look after each other, and care for each other, and play hard for each other, and take advantage of this great opportunity they had,” Murphy said.