Sometimes when you schedule an interview, it all comes together smoothly and other times scheduling can be a trainwreck, sometimes it’s the interviewer forgetting an appointment, sometimes it’s a sick kid. That’s not to blame Gabe Hoffman-Johnson or the front office people of Hearts of Pine, who were punctual, organized, and ready to go. And the same could be said of one of the cleanest and well-orchestrated launching of a USL League One club, Hearts of Pine.

As Gabe’s smiling face came into focus on the zoom window, I couldn’t help but think, dude should be the face of a club, he’s got it. And it’s not just his handsome face, but the enthusiasm and passion that comes through his voice as he talks about the club he helped found. He loves the game, loves his state, and loves Hearts of Pine football club.

“We toss around the word ‘Magic’ a lot,” Gabe’s laugh interrupted that thought, almost bashful of the grandeur of the thought. But season one for Hearts was a pretty magical one. Portland battled through the regular season and finished in seventh, qualifying for the playoffs. Throughout the season, the team played in front of a packed home stand, showing the growing connection between club and city. Qualifying for the playoffs in year one showed all the work was paying off.

Photo credit: Brian Berthiaume/Portland Hearts of Pine

After a first round win, the team went up against Spokane in the semifinals, eventually losing on penalties. For Hoffman-Johnson, who played high-level college soccer and a season professionally with St. Louis (then in USL Championship), the defeat against Velocity was a rough one. “Our semifinal loss was probably the most-heartbreaking loss I’ve ever been involved in. We were so close, I was absolutely gutted.”

But regardless of the loss and how it felt to not achieve the ultimate season success, Gabe kept things in perspective. “Success on the field is an important piece of what the club is, but it’s not all of it…as the weeks have gone by, I feel nothing but pride for the year that was.” Year one for the club was clearly a success both on and off the field - sold out stadium, supporter’s group growth, connection to community - the entire launch was a win “beyond our wildest dreams.”

Now year two is upon the club and already Hearts is shining on the field, winning this weekend over legendary USL1 expansion side New York Cosmos, 3-1. With their first regular season win already under their belt in 2026, the team’s US Open Cup first round matchup looms large this evening. Hearts will face another plucky team from the northeast, USL2 champions Vermont Green. It’s a dream matchup for fans of both clubs’ cultural ethos and the seemingly organic connection to their respective communities. The comparison between the two clubs is not lost on Gabe. “They way they’ve engendered themselves to the Green Mountain State and a lot of what they’re doing is incredible. We’re constantly looking at them and clubs like them for ideas. I think there’s an argument that can be made that the heartbeat of American soccer is in New England…must be something in the water.”

Gabe has a point, while there are certainly hotspots for soccer culture around the country, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place more focused on the sport than the northeast. The images of packed stands, teams embracing their supporters, and trophies being raised all point to the rise of the game in this geographic extreme of the country. That passion for the sport paired with well-run organizations that focus on community connection is seeing a boom unmatched in any other region in the United States.

Photo credit: Josh Lane/Portland Hearts of Pine

What the future will hold for Hearts is hard to predict. With the coming addition of promotion/relegation, could the Championship or first division be part of the Portland story? Could a small, soccer-specific stadium be in the future for the tiny club that could? Certainly it’s possible and Gabe doesn’t take anything off the table, but keeping the project grounded in Maine is his number one priority. “We want to go up. We want to compete. But we have to stay true to who we are…We’re a purpose-driven company, a process-driven company. We’re focused on doing the right things, for the right reasons, in the right way, to the best of our ability. That’s our guiding light.”

- Dan Vaughn

Portland Hearts of Pine will travel to Vermont to take on Vermont Green in the first round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday evening.