"Ballard of the 20th of Maine" by The Ghost of Paul Revere is played before every home game for the Portland Hearts of Pine.

Passionately sung throughout the stadium as players enter, the song recounts the heroic defense at Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. Ordinary people stood their ground, defied the odds, and avoided surrender.

Head coach Bobby Murphy used the song, which became Maine's official ballad in 2019, ahead of Sunday's game against Forward Madison to remind his players of what it means to represent the state.

"I was thinking about Joseph Campbell and the power of myth, and the song that [the fans] sing as the guys come out about being the boys of Maine," Murphy said. "I'm not sure how many of them understood A, what a myth is, and B, what that song means and represents to this state and this community.

"We talked about myth as a way of perpetuating values and lessons through generations. That song is an embodiment of what this state and people value. It's showing up. It's when your back's against the wall, you don't back down, you go, you band together, and you find a way."

Michel Poon-Angeron, the first-ever signing for Hearts, was a central cog of last year's team, which was inches away from playing in the USL League One Final during its inaugural season. Hearing the song and discussing its meaning stirred emotions.

"Personally, I sat there and got goosebumps because I remember what the feeling was like last year when people would come here, and they would just capitulate. They couldn't keep up with us," Poon-Angeron said.

"I don't want to discredit anybody this year, but I just don't think we're able to replicate it. I don't fault effort. I don't fault our diligence to make it happen. It's just, sometimes things don't fall your way."

A lot hasn't fallen Hearts' way this year, including weather delays, constant injuries, uncharacteristic mistakes, fluky goals, and referee calls.

"It feels like we've been running uphill on a treadmill all year," Murphy said. "Guys in and out, and injuries, and trying to get some sort of continuity. Then doubt creeps in. In my job, soccer's the easy part. It's all the other stuff [that's hard]: Keeping the group together and focused and believing in each other, believing in themselves."

Sunday's game didn't go the way Hearts hoped, as they lost 2-1 to Madison, who sit third in the standings.

A powerful header gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute. Hunter Morse made a penalty stop, but Madison doubled their advantage from a free kick in the 57th minute.

But Hearts continued to fight, even after JayTee Kamara was shown a red card to reduce the home side to ten men.

A stunning goal from Diego Gonzalez in the 86th minute provided hope. Hearts continued to push for another, earning several corner kicks, but couldn't find the equalizer.

Murphy admitted that he's come to the post-game press conference many times this year with "real frustration and anger and angst in my heart" because of the night's performance. That wasn't the case on Sunday.

"We spent a lot of time talking about how they had to earn being called a boy of Maine, and I think a lot of nights this year we haven't earned that," Murphy said. "I think that's just an honest, fair statement.

"I think tonight, like, I'm at peace right now. They gave everything, and I thought they stuck to the plan, and they created some stuff. If we weren't good enough in certain areas, I can live with that because they gave everything."

Momentum is a real thing in soccer, as made evident last year when Hearts went unbeaten in eight (6-0-2) in August and September to make a late playoff push.

During positive stretches, things happen easily. During lulls, players can try too hard to find solutions without letting it happen organically.

"When things are not falling in your way, it's so hard to keep a clean mind," Poon-Angeron said.

Perhaps a microcosm of the season, the Madison game had moments that didn't swing in Hearts' favor. Some fouls, and even the red card, were questionable. They also hit the woodwork. But those things happen in soccer.

Sitting ten points below the playoff line with 12 games to go, Hearts know they face an uphill battle, but they plan to forge ahead while perpetuating the values of the state.

"Tonight, I'd say we left our all out there," Poon-Angeron said. "I mean, nobody can argue against that, but that's football. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. We just got to dig our heels in. We got 12 more games…There have been greater comeback stories. We just got to be optimistic.”