2 min read

Sean Vinberg has played every minute of the Hearts of Pine’s league games. Daryn Slover/Portland Press Herald

When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium

Television: NESN/ESPN+

Outlook: The Portland Hearts of Pine (0-1-4) are still looking for their first USL League One win, coming off its fourth tie in five games at defending champion Union Omaha last Saturday. Nathaniel James tied the game 2-2 in the 86th minute, just two minutes after making his league debut as a substitute, when he poked home a Nathan Messer cross. Azaad Liadi also scored against Omaha. After drawing 5,784 fans to Fitzpatrick for its home opener (1-1 tie vs. One Knoxville), Portland expects another large crowd and, probably, another rainy day. This is the second meeting between the two expansion teams. The Hearts’ first league game was in Naples, Florida, ending in a 0-0 tie. Portland is 13th in the 14-team league. Naples (4-2-2) is second in the league standings but has lost two straight, including Wednesday’s 3-1 setback on a muddy, water-logged pitch at the Chattanooga Red Wolves. In its seven previous USL League One games, Naples allowed three goals total. Naples will be without three key players because of red cards received at Chattanooga: Keeper Lalo Delgado, who had started every league game and has a league-best four shutouts; center back Jake Dengler, who had played every minute in league play; and forward Jayden Onen (seven starts, one goal, one assist). Karsen Henderlong has scored five of Naples’ 10 league goals. … For Portland, center back Sean Vinberg continues to be the ironman, having played every minute of the club’s five league games; attacking midfielder Masashi Wada has impressed with his ability to create offense; and keeper Hunter Morse made some sterling saves to help forge the tie in Omaha.

Steve Craig reports primarily about Maine’s active high school sports scene and, more recently, the Portland Hearts of Pine men's professional soccer team. His first newspaper job was covering Maine...

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