hTe 2026 season opener for Portland Hearts of Pine introduced several new faces as the club began its USL League One campaign with a 3–1 win over expansion side New York Cosmos at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey.
Portland took the field in its new striped Lighthouse kits, while Cosmos were clad in their iconic green.
Hearts’ first scoring opportunity fittingly came from 2025 scoring leader Ollie Wright, who got a shot off a rebound during a one-on-one opportunity. Portland threatened again in the 12th minute when Masashi Wada found a streaking Titus Washington. Washington drew Cosmos goalkeeper Tristan Stephani off his line, but his shot deflected off the right post.
New York began to build momentum just after the 20-minute mark with a series of chances. Hearts goalkeeper Hunter Morse responded with a key save in the 22nd minute, diving to gather a close-range attempt from Sebastián Guenzatti near the left side of the six-yard box. Moments later, Darren Sidoel nearly put Cosmos ahead with a shot from distance that ricocheted off the crossbar before Morse secured the rebound.
Portland nearly broke through just before halftime when Mo Mohamed lofted a ball into the box to Wada, but Stephani came up with the save on Wada’s header.
Hearts finally got on the scoreboard for the first time in 2026 in the 56th minute. Wada delivered a cross to the far side of the goal where debuting Konstantinos Georgallides headed it home for his first professional goal, giving Portland a 1–0 lead.
New York leveled the match in the 73rd minute when Sidoel, who had been denied earlier, fired from the top of the penalty area, beating Morse on the near side.
Portland responded quickly. Following a corner from Wright, substitute Jay Tee Kamara settled the ball and found Wada, who created space and finished to restore Portland’s lead. Another new signee, Aboubacar Camara, sealed the win in the 86th minute, taking a well-placed touch from Wright and slipping the ball past Stephani to the far side.
The victory gives Portland a strong start to its 2026 campaign and an early three points to begin the season.
Portland travels to Burlington, Vermont, on Tuesday for its highly anticipated U.S. Open Cup match against USL League Two champion Vermont Green FC before heading to the West Coast for a matchup with AV Alta FC.
