Hearts of Pine score in second half to earn tie in final friendly of season
Portland’s Tyler Huck makes a move up field during the Hearts of Pine’s 1-1 draw with CT United on Wedesday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. Huck scored in the 75th minute. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)
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PORTLAND — Bowdoin College graduate Tyler Huck scored in the 75th minute as the Portland Hearts of Pine played to a 1-1 draw against CT United in a friendly on Wednesday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
A crowd of 6,403 fans packed Fitzpatrick Stadium for the Hearts of Pine’s final friendly of the season. Portland played three trialists (practice players), including two who were in the starting lineup. Lewiston native Khalid Hersi was among the starters.
“It’s a good experience for them,” said Portland’s Esteban Espinosa. “I’ve been in a trialist position myself, many times. In this environment, it can be a little intimidating. But I hope they enjoyed it. It’s unique. We’ve tried to make them feel comfortable in the locker room and welcome to the group. We hope they felt that support on the field.”
Portland returns to USL League One play with a home match against Corpus Christi FC on Saturday. The Hearts of Pine lost to Corpus Christi, 3-2, on June 3.
Huck’s goal came off a rebound of a shot from Ollie Wright. The ball bounced off CT United goalkeeper Anthony Ramos to Huck, who had a wide-open net.
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“I thought the keeper would hold onto it, and I’m glad he didn’t,” Huck said. “It was kind of being at the right place at the right time. Glad I didn’t miss that one.”
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The Hearts had an advantage in possession and played strong defense throughout the first half. However, an early hole in the defense allowed CT United to take a 1-0 lead. At 5:39, Cauã Paixão found an opening near the sideline, found some room for a breakaway, and nailed a shot with his left foot that beat Hearts of Pine goalkeeper Kash Oladapo to the right corner of the net.
“I told (the team) at halftime, ‘It’s playing out of the back, not playing in the back,'” said Portland coach Bobby Murphy. “If you keep going sideways, sideways, back, you’re just inviting pressure. You’re in no position to dig out the second balls and you’re going big anyway, so you might as well go big 30 yards further down the field, in their half.”
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The Hearts surged in the second half, particularly when Wright entered the game in the 73rd minute. Portland’s attack gained speed, setting up Huck’s goal just two minutes later.
Portland is looking for offense after forward Dylan Sing was recalled to Indy Eleven, his parent club of the USL Championship. Sing played four games with Portland and had one goal.
Aboubacar Camara and Huck are available at striker for the Hearts of Pine, Murphy said.
“We have an attacking piece (that has signed) that we’ll be announcing in the next week,” Murphy said. “But we’re still in the market. We’re hunting for loan players and that sort of thing. That’s a need, and we’re trying to find one.”
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Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports. More by Dave Dyer
