With nearly a full starting XI of signings announced, Hearts of Pine is well on its way to having a filled-out roster. With Evan Southern’s signing, Hearts have named their first forward, but additional strikers remain on the market. With pre-season training camps beginning across the USL, the State of the Union looks at what forwards remain on the market as free agents.

Yaniv Bazini
The fact that Yaniv Bazini was not drafted during the MLS draft last month is a mystery to Vermont soccer fans. He had an impressive 14 goals in 1874 minutes of play for the Catamounts in the fall season which saw him take the University of Vermont to their first national championship. All this coming off a summer where he became Vermont Green’s all-time leading goal scorer does leave some questions as to why he was not drafted. An Israeli citizen, Bazini gave an interview last month to the Jewish Sports Report where he spoke of his desire to join an MLS squad following his college career and baring that he would be interested in pursuing a professional career outside the United States with Europe or Israel listed as possible destinations. It is still possible that Bazini could sign for a USL club like Hearts of Pine, however, as the United in Green podcast team reported on the Revolution Recap Bazini has received offers from USLC and USL1 clubs. It is unknown, however, if the Hearts are one of those suitors.

Mark Doyle
A year ago, when Mark Doyle landed in the United States, he was heralded by his club, Rhode Island FC, as an important contributor to their coming campaign. Unfortunately for the Irishman, it did not quite work out that way. In a system that prioritized the talents of Albert Dikwa and Noah Fuson up front, Doyle became the odd man out. That said, he made several important contributions to RIFC last season including 2 goals (3 if you count the official own goal in RIFC’s first match), and did wrack up nearly 1000 minutes on the pitch across 31 appearances. In the end, Doyle simply was surplus to requirements in a stacked Rhode Island roster and was released by his club last month.
Doyle could be a risky signing for a striker as he has traditionally played as a winger but has often filled in the striker role when required. With Ollie Wright capable of playing on the left wing it would make sense to sign a center-forward which Doyle could do but may not be the best choice. That said, they both are play makers and given Wright's signing and Doyle's cost it may be best to consider twice before making a move for Doyle. Since he was released from Rhode Island, there have been no clear rumors about his destination.

Khalid Balogun
26-year-old Nigerian Khalid Balogun was released by Lexington SC during their wholesale roster purge at the end of this season following a loan spell at Miami FC. Balogun has played in the USL ranks for several seasons now usually as a center-forward and has had moderate success in front of the net, scoring 6 goals between the 2023 & 2024 seasons albeit with only 1700 minutes played between the 2 seasons. Balogun has never played as a primary starter but he does have something the Hearts squad does somewhat lack right now – size. Balogun is big for Hearts at 6 foot 4 inches and at 209 lbs you can see how he could use his physicality to win and keep a ball in the run-up to scoring. Certainly, this physicality, if unlocked productively (Balogun took home 11 yellow cards in 2023 albeit without a single red) could make him a solid option in front of the goal.

Richard Ballard
Veteran sticker Richard Ballard shan’t see 30 again but his experience in the USL is well known. Over the last 10 years, Ballard has played for clubs like Detroit, Maimi, and Louisville City. That said, Ballard is not a pure center-forward and is more attuned to being a shadow striker and or right midfielder - he has also seen time as a left winger. If Coach Murphy seeks to create options for his tactical system, it might make sense to find a player with symmetry to Wright although it would not solve the pressing need of needing someone else directly in front of the goal. Nonetheless, Ballard’s experience may make him worth a look.

Rudi Castro
Were it 2023 or 2024, Rudi Castro would likely seem to be a no-brainer of a signing. The right winger who has bled over into a center-forward role had significant contributions in the 2023 MLSNP season playing for San Jose’s reserve squad scoring 15 goals across 2 seasons. Such success did not follow the American to One Knox where he has struggled to make a dent in the squad with only 9 appearances this season totaling just over 600 minutes with 1 assist. One Knox indeed had a roster full of forwards but Castro failed to stand out to the coaching staff there. His status as primarily a winger may not play into Bobby Murphy’s tactical plans but if we need another forward Castro is certainly available and probably desperate to prove himself in front of the goal.

Lyam MacKinnon
If there is one player still available with a proven track record in the USL1 it is 2024 Golden Boot Winner Lyam MacKinnon. The Greenville Triumph’s all-time leading goal scorer had an amazing season in 2024 with 16 goals in 22 matches with 35 shots on target. Swiss-born, the 25-year-old would be a heavy lift financially for a new club like Hearts but if any free agents could get the job done is MacKinnon. That said, MacKinnon could also be seen as something of a cautionary tale. Before joining the League, MacKinnon was good, an MLS draft signing in fact, but not good enough to have significant play time until 2023 when he joined Greenville. Like MacKinnon’s rise to prominence, it's completely possible Hearts’ coaching staff could find a diamond in the rough just waiting for an opportunity for significantly cheaper than MacKinnon’s salary would command.

Wilfredo Rivera
At 5 foot 6 inches, Puerto Rican international Wilfredo Rivera would not do much to solve the clear height challenges in Hearts’ announced players, but he has shown some impressive statistics as a center-forward. Last season playing for Orlando City B, Rivera scored 5 goals in 24 appearances covering 1664 minutes. The 21-year-old has quite a bit of experience given his age, having played in the USL1, USLC & MLSNP since 2020. He has even been named to MLS first-team match-day rosters on 4 separate occasions but has never appeared. Short stature aside, Rivera is worth consideration although he would require some conversion to a striker as he primarily has played as a right winger. Of particular interest to Rivera is his ability to be accurate at long range which may be of interest to Coach Murphy.

Ethan Hoard
In the run-up to the 2025 USL season, all 38 teams of the league have been eying the bones of Northern Colorado Hailstorm who were removed from the league following the 2024 campaign due to financial irregularities. NoCo, who won the 2024 Jaegermeister Cup had serious talent including forward Ethan Hoard who scored 14 goals with 9 assists across all competitions last season, proving himself to be a standout among a team of standouts. The 23-year-old would be an excellent signing for Hearts who could use his 6 ft 5 inches of height on the front line as well as his USL1 experience. Given his success last season though, Hoard may be looking for a challenge beyond the USL1. Rumors have developed over the last week that Hoard has been approached by Serbian side FK Jedinstvo Ub which would mean Hearts would need to move fast and with purpose if they wanted to sign Hoard.
Daron Iskenderyan
Former Armenian U-21 international Daron Iskenderyan has significant multi-positional qualities about him. In 3 seasons of professional play in 61 appearances he has never appeared in the same position more than 13 times most prominently as a left midfielder although he has also appeared as an attacking midfielder and center-forward for teams such as Las Vegas Lights and Real Salt Lake’s reserve squad. Last season playing in the RSL system Iskenderyan scored 4 goals and 6 assists although most of that time was as a left midfielder. Coach Murphy and his team would likely need to consider how to use a player like Iskenderyan although a center-forward or winger could prove beneficial. There also can be something said for multi-disciplined players especially in the back half of the season when options become important as fatigue and injuries whittle down a squad. While perhaps a bit more expensive than a USL1 team would typically afford, Iskenderyan could provide good flexibility while also fulfilling a scoring role.
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