There are are so many interesting stories when it comes to the Portland Hearts of Pine. But it’s important to remember that there are 16 other clubs in USL League One, each with its own narrative that helps explain how the season has gone.
Every Tuesday, The Hearts’ Beat will pull together a roundup of the most intriguing stories from around the league. Some may have a connection to the Hearts; others will just be information readers should know.
So let’s take a look:
USL1 has chosen its four best goals from last week and Jay Tee Kamara’s remarkable solo effort (in the Hearts’ 4-1 loss) is one of the choices.
USL1 said: “The 24-year-old carved his way through a plethora of Sarasota Paradise players, then converted on a well-deserved goal, his fourth goal of the season.”
Fans also have the option from another moment during Saturday’s match, which was a dagger by Sarasota’s Sander Røed, whose curling shot snuck past Portland’s goalkeeper Hunter Morse.
Union Omaha not only held onto its first-place lead in the USL1 standings but increased it thanks to a 3-1 victory over Greenville Triumph SC. From the USL1: Second-half goals by Cáceres, Kempes Tekiela earn 3-1 victory to move clear at top of standings
Second place Charlotte Independence, the league’s best scoring team in USL1 history, came back to earn a draw against Fort Wayne FC despite having a player receive a red card for the third time in five matches. While it has a game in hand, Charlotte (2 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws in its last five matches) seems to be faltering at the wrong time of the season. Portland hosts Charlotte in both teams’ final match of the 2026 season.
Saturday’s match between the New York Cosmos and Richmond Kickers was postponed by a day “due to severe weather anticipated to affect the greater New York area over the weekend.”
The Cosmos won the rescheduled match 3-2.Westchester SC’s Conor McGlynn continues to lead the USL1 in goal scoring. From USL1: In Westchester’s most recent match, McGlynn scored his third game-winning goal of the season, his most dramatic one yet. Deadlocked with the New York Cosmos at a goal apiece in the eighth minute of stoppage time, McGlynn scored at the death to clinch Westchester a victory.
We missed this last week so it’s important to note that the Hearts’ Morse was chosen for making the USL1 Save of the Week. Voting took place mid-week and Morse’s superlative save was chosen as the winner.
One of USL1’s clubs joining the league next season, the Sporting Cascades of Eugene, Oregon, held an innovative event last week. Fans didn't buy normal entry tickets. Placing a $26 ticket deposit served as a fan's admission ticket for a music festival and gave them a place in line to map out and select their physical seats for 2027. Additionally, the deposit could be applied entirely as credit toward whatever package they choose later.
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, who hail from Eugene, was the festival’s headliner.
