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The Portland Hearts of Pine’s first season was a whirlwind of firsts.

First game, first goal, first win, first league win, first playoff win, first devastating playoff loss.

Now it’s time for Portland’s second season in USL League One, which starts Saturday when Maine’s professional men’s soccer team plays the expansion New York Cosmos (same name, no Pele, no Franz Beckenbauer) in Paterson, New Jersey (2 p.m., ESPN+).

Here are five changes, big and small, that could determine whether Portland can improve on its overall 12-8-12 record in USL1 that ended with a semifinal loss to Spokane in penalty kicks.

MORE OVERALL DEPTH

By the end of last season, the Hearts of Pine were a worn out and battered group. With a chance to clinch a home playoff bid, they went 1-2-2 over the final five regular-season games. In a semifinal loss at Spokane, Portland used seven players it chose not to re-sign for 2026.

“Last year, especially in the semifinal, we had a lot of guys out, so that kind of derailed us a bit,” said returning center back Kemali Green. “This year, we have a much deeper squad, so hopefully that can take us a step further.”

The Hearts will play a minimum of 41 matches: 34 in the regular season (compared to 30 in 2025), four in the USL Cup, two friendlies (one last season), and a St. Patrick’s Day U.S. Open Cup game at Vermont Green. Head coach and sporting director Bobby Murphy emphasized building a deeper roster, with more players he can trust on a professional pitch.

“I think we’re stronger than we were last season. We’re deeper. And hopefully it won’t take us too long to get up to speed with everybody,” Murphy said.

MIDFIELD MAKEOVER

In addition to an overhaul of its defense (see related story), Portland appears to have strengthened its midfield.

Recently added middies Diogo Barbosa and Matteo Kidd are likely starters against the Cosmos. Barbosa, 30, has been a pro since he was 17 and is a two-way center midfielder from Portugal. This will be his first time playing in the United States.

Center back Brecc Evans, another key offseason acquisition, offered unprompted praise of Barbosa during a recent training session. “He’s so good,” Evans said. Murphy agrees, “He’ll be really good for us.”

Kidd, 28, is a vocal, active player with a hard shot. A St. Louis native, he played for St. Louis City SC 2 in MLS Next Pro the past two seasons. Murphy coached that team in 2024.

“Matteo just came in from St. Louis and he looks fantastic. He knows what I want. I had him in St. Louis. It’s an easy transition for him,” Murphy said.

They’ll join a strong and diverse group that includes defensive-minded center midfielders Michel Poon-Angeron and returning captain Mikey Lopez, along with top returning scorers Ollie Wright, Masashi Wada and JayTee Kamara. Lewiston’s Khalid Hersi is also back for a second season.

NO NATHAN MESSER

Messer, who was transferred to Charleston Battery, a USL Championship team, was a dynamic game-in, game-out force last season and worked especially well with leading scorer Ollie Wright to create chances up the left side and free Wright to work into the middle. How well the new left back — likely Zion Scarlett — works with Wright will be an important factor.

MORE CONTINUITY

Thirteen players return from the 2025 squad, and only veteran striker Emiliano Terzaghi missed all of the preseason because of visa hang-ups.

Kamara, Portland’s exciting wing midfielder, said he benefited from having a full preseason. A native of Sierra Leone, he was unable to join the team last season until mid-May because of visa issues.

“It’s like this: when I first came in, I find it difficult. How we press. How we defend. But now this year it’s way different,” said Kamara. “I started preseason with these guys. I love everything we’re doing and now I think I understand the principles and how we defend and when and how we press or when we need to go as a team.”

FEWER PRO ROOKIES

In 2025, the Hearts had seven players in their first professional season. Two days before Saturday’s season opener, Portland has three rookies on its 2026 roster, each from NCAA Division I programs. Outside back Ernest Mensah Jr. played at Syracuse. Forward Aboubacar Camara finished his college career at Penn State and was the leading scorer each of his three seasons at Louisville. Konstantinos “Tino” Georgallidas is coming from UCLA (he also played at Louisville and UNC Greensboro) but played three seasons with professional teams in Cyprus as a teenager.