The Case for the Supporter's Player of the Year
- Robert McLaughlin
- Oct 24
- 8 min read
With any team sports, trying to pick a most valuable player is a difficult choice. Even for those steeped in the complexities of football - the tactics, the athleticism, the confidence required – trying discern the actual “best” often leads to a raucous debate. With voting ongoing for the Hearts of Pine Supporter's Player of the Year, the State of the Union has taken a dive into some of the most consequential players on the roster this season. Here we list their honors, key statistics, and provide insight from fans who are ready to make their case for their favorite player.
Hunter Morse
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 4 times
· DU Man of the Match: 5 times
· USL1 Save of the Week: 3 times
Statistics:
Total Minutes: 2430
Goals Conceded per Game: 1.2
Saves per Game: 3.0 (71%)
Successful Run Outs per Game: .5 (93%)
Clean Sheets: 6
Balls Recovered per Game: 9.1
Fan Thoughts:
"Despite a recent run of difficult matches, its critical to remember how rock solid Hunter Morse has been throughout the Hearts campaign this season. During low scoring matches in the early season, Hunter is why those matches ended up being draws and not losses. When our defenses have at times needed time to recover during injury spells, Hunter has picked up the slack and proven he's worthy of being our brick wall" - Rob M.
Ollie Wright
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 9 times
· DU Man of the Match: 3 times
· USL1 August Player of the Month
· USL1 Player of the Week – September 2nd
· USL1 July Impact Sub
· Hat Trick – June 19
· USL1 Player of the Week - June 17th
Statistics:
Goals: 9
Shots per Game: 1.9
Assists: 8
Big Chances Created: 7
Fan Thoughts:
"Beyond the obvious stats, you can't look away when Ollie is on the ball. He might meg a defender, backheel it to an overlapping Messer, or pluck a field-switching-cross out of the air with a first touch that doesn't even interrupt his stride. Our love for Ollie is reciprocated in his love for us. He'll turn to the DU and gesture to get us going, scale fences to celebrate with us, and respond personally on social media to well wishes. More than any other player he seems to understand that we are in the midst of something special, that 2025 will be a lifelong memory for fans and players alike." - Nate M.
"I love all of our players. Hunter has won us points with his keeping. Titus keeps defenders busy all game. MPA is the glue that holds the team together. But Ollie Wright is, to me, the best player on the team. He leads the team in goals and assists. His technical ability and skill keeps defenders off balance. He always puts in a shift, and he is the opposition's number one concern almost always. He's also been a mainstay in the community, appearing at charity events, and he always takes time out for fans. I didn't even really think about it when presented with the options, because to me it's clear: Ollie Wright is the player of the year. He is the heart and soul of the Hearts of Pine." - Anthony E.
“Ollie exemplifies the mix of determination and style, as well as the connection to community, that has made this first season a success for the hearts. Also he was the first player signed after my daughter (also named Ollie) was born, so that’s neat” - Alex K.
Michel Poon-Angeron
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 3 times
· DU Man of the Match: Once
Statistics:
Passing Accuracy per Game: 85%
Acc. in Oppos. Half: 79%
Big Chances Created: 3
Balls Recovered per Game: 4.6
Fan Thoughts:
"It’s Michel Poon-Angeron for me. Maybe it is a bit of bias because Stevie G was my first love in the number 8 shirt? Michel is a player I have sung my praise for all season. He leads the team in accurate passes per 90 with 31.9 and trails only Nathan Messer in accurate long balls per 90 at 2.4. The thing I love about his game is the way he scans the pitch, his ability to see a pass before it happens is special. What does this mean? Michel is one of, if not the best facilitators of play on this team. Defensively, he is not to be messed with either. MPA has put in 61 successful tackles putting him second behind Mikey Lopez and is leading the way based on games played with 1.5 interceptions per 90 minutes. Always in the conversation for a buoy, it’s his ability to lead by example on both ends of the pitch that makes him the perfect choice for Hearts Player of the Season." - Mitchell K.
"MPA is the glue that ties both ends of the field together. He breaks opposing pressing and is the smothering layer in our press" - Scott M.
"The fact MPA has only received 1 Man of the Match buoy this season is a greater crime than the Louvre Jewelry Robbery." - Rob M.
Titus Washington
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: Twice
· DU Man of the Match: Twice
Statistics:
Goals: 5
Shots per Game: 2.2
Assists: 3
Big Chances Created: 5
Shots on Target per Game: .9
Fan Thoughts:
"But lo, from the pine-crowned kingdom of Portland rises Titus Washington, the Titan of Turf, the Monarch of the Matchday, the Hammer-Wielder, the Unicorn-Rider, the Net-Breaker, the Hope-Snatcher, the Crowned Conqueror of Cleats.
He does not warm up. He descends.
He does not shoot. He delivers judgment.
He does not celebrate. He allows the world to witness greatness.
It is said that his very boot was kissed by three gods and a referee before it became the Hammer. That when Titus breathes, defenders lose balance. That when he dreams, the ball bends to his will. That once, in a scrimmage, he kicked a shot so hard the scoreboard caught fire and a flock of geese defected to the U.S. out of fear.
Titus does not ride a unicorn out of style or novelty. No—he tamed the last living unicorn in the Cascadian wilds, wrestled it into loyalty, and now rides it into every international affair with a mane of flame and hooves of steel.
Canada cannot withstand him. No nation could.
Their goalposts will shake. Their anthem will go unsung. Their fans will watch in silence as their Wanderers are reduced to whispers.
This is not diplomacy. This is Titus Washington, and he has come to remind the North who reigns. The hammer has been lifted. The unicorn has begun its charge. Let the ice melt and the nets burn.
Long live the king" - T1tus FC (on the occasion of our first international friendly against HFX Wanderers)
Nathan Messer
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 5 times
· DU Man of the Match: 3 times
· USL1 Goal of the Week – October 2nd
Statistics:
Goals: 5
Total Minutes Played: 2548
Touches per Game: 69.5
Big Chances Created: 7
Key Passes per Game: 1.3
Balls recovered per game: 3.7
Fan Thoughts:
"MVP. Most minutes played. Most starts. Most chances created (for a defender - second most chances created overall). Most distance covered (from my heart to the field and back). No Messer, No Party." - Charles A.
"Messer has been an absolute work horse for the Hearts this year. He’s played the most minutes out of any player and has also created the most chances this season. His link-up play with Ollie Wright on the left has been pivotal to the Hearts’ attack from the beginning. Not to mention, he can disguise a goal as a cross. It’s what he does." - Molly W.
Sean Vinberg
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: Once
· DU Man of the Match: 3 times
· USL1 Goal of the Week – September 4th
Statistics:
Goals: 1
Clean Sheets: 5
Clearances per Game: 5.7
Ground Duels Won: 62%
Fan Thoughts:
"Vinberg for the most part has been a very level headed player on our back line remaining calm and providing precise tackles when we need them. He I feel like has also added a lot of leadership to the back line with help from mikey but overall vinberg has set a great example for how to defend without over extending yourself and also how to be a great leader whether that be being vocal on bad calls or getting the back line hyped up after a great play he seems like an all around great dude." - Chance R.
Masashi Wada
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 4 times
· DU Man of the Match: 3 times
Statistics:
Goals: 8
Shots per Game: 1.6
Key Passes per Game: 1.
Fan Thoughts:
"Masashi scored our first goal at Fitzpatrick Stadium with an outside of the boot lunge against One Knoxville and has been producing for the Hearts of Pine both on and off the stats sheet ever since. With 24 matches played Masashi has lived Coach Bobby Murphy’s philosophy of getting the ball forward as quickly as possible with 40% of his season long pass total going forward with a 76% passing accuracy of all passes. His attacking stats are 34 shots with 20 sog and 8 goals that place him tied for first for the Hearts with Ollie Wright. Masashi’s nose for space is exceptional. This attribute made Masashi indispensable when playing possession based sides earlier in the season. Head Coach Bobby Murphy chose to utilize Masashi deep in his midfield to clog passing lanes, stymieing the offenses advance. On the attack Masashi is opening up spaces for his teammates with his diagonal runs against the defensive line. His quick passing with his team mates in the build up directs players to space. His best goal of the year thus far was away against the Greenville Triumph. His quiet assassin foot skills and vision was on full display for all to see. It was a diagonal run to the top of the box between the midfield and back line that exposed a pocket of space sniffed out by Wada. Mikey Lopez delivered the pass and Masashi passed the ball behind the center back attempting to close him down. He then ran in front of the defender and rendezvoused with the ball and struck it into the back of the net. One of the slickest bits of skill in the box that you’ll see all year from anybody. With Masashi out of the lineup or when he was positioned deep in the midfield the Hearts struggled to move the ball into the attacking third. Underlining what a pivotal player Masashi is to the Hearts of Pine." - Shawn F.
Mikey Lopez
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: Once
· DU Man of the Match: Once
Statistics:
Assists: 2
Passing Accuracy: 79%
Interceptions per Game: 1.4
Tackles per Game: 2.4
Balls Recovered per Game: 4.1
Fan Thoughts:
"For me, player of the year is Mikey Lopez. You can teach technique and skills, but not always leadership. So much of this first season has been building a culture, and Mikey resembles the fight and leadership that will shape the story of Hearts of Pine and Dirigo Union for years to come." - Sebastien P.
Jay Tee Kamara
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: 3 times
· DU Man of the Match: 3 times
· USL1 September Impact Sub
· USL1 August Impact Sub
Statistics:
Goals: 5
Assists: 4
Shots per Game: 1.2
Balls Recovered per Game: 2.1
Fan Thoughts:
"Jay Tee Kamara is one who’s always made an impact when he’s on the pitch. Be it taking the ball himself, slicing through defenders and scoring, or feeding his teammates with assists, Jay Tee made the biggest impact to the Hearts attack this season." - Sam T.
Kemali Green:
Honors:
· USL1 Team of the Week: Once
· DU Man of the Match: Twice
Statistics:
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Passing Accuracy per Game: 87%
Clean Sheets: 5
Balls Recovered per Game: 2.6
Clearances per Game: 5.8
Fan Thoughts:
"If one player has shown growth this season, its Kemali Green. Prior to our start, Kemali had never seen a professional minute of play and it occasionally showed. In two US Open Cup matches he occasionally made rushed plays that placed the team in dangerous situations. Fast forward a few months and Kemali is a rock solid defender who (with Sean Vinberg) anchors our defensive line. I have no fear when he's in the line-up." - Rob M.
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