CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - League veterans No. 2 seed Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will host expansion side No. 7 seed Portland Hearts of Pine in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL League One Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night. The Hearts will make their playoff debut at CHI Memorial Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.  

How They Got Here  

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (15-5-10, 55pts) – After finishing second from bottom last season, Chattanooga accomplished its best regular season finish coming second in its first full season under Head Coach Scott Mackenzie. The Red Wolves got off to a slow start in league play picking up just three points in its opening four games, but a stretch from April to September that saw the side lose just one game kept it near the top of the table throughout the campaign. Chattanooga defeated USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC in the U.S. Open Cup before falling in the Round of 32 to Nashville SC, the eventual champions. Stout defensive play, including a Golden Glove-winning season by rookie Jason Smith, helped the Red Wolves concede only 30 goals, the second-fewest goals in League One. 

Portland Hearts of Pine (11-7-12, 45pts) – Portland has taken the American soccer landscape by storm in its first season, setting a League One attendance record and averaging 5,829 fans across 15 home league matches. On the pitch, the Hearts of Pine struggled to string together consistent results, not getting their first league win until the sixth match of the season, but an eight-game undefeated streak that included six wins in midseason push the side into playoff contention. Portland also delivered multiple cupset wins, including a penalty shootout victory over Hartford Athletic in the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup and a 4-2 thumping of Detroit City FC in the USL Jägermeister Cup. After clinching their inaugural playoff spot, the Hearts of Pine scored a team-record six goals in their penultimate match of the season against Spokane. 

All-Time Series 

Chattanooga holds the advantage of winning the first-ever matchup between the two clubs, 2-1, in Tennessee. The return fixture ended in a 1-1 draw at Fitzpatrick Stadium. 

Opta Says 

10 – Pedro Hernandez became the fifth Chattanooga Red Wolves player to record a double-digit goal total in League One play. 

48.55 – Portland Hearts of Pine had an Expected Goals total of 48.55, the fourth highest of League One Playoff teams. 

Players to Watch  

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – Pedro Hernandez: The 26-year-old forward took a major step forward this season, having scored just two goals in each of his three previous League One campaigns. Hernandez’s 10 goals on the year mostly came from open play with just one converted penalty kick. 

Portland Hearts of Pine – Ollie Wright: The English midfielder showed up in the big moments for the Hearts of Pine this year, providing nine goals and eight assists, including three game-winning goals. 

Uniforms 

Discipline Report 

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – none 

Portland Hearts of Pine – Suspended: Masashi Wada  

Officials 

REF: Muhammad Hassan 
AR1: Melissa Beck 
AR2: Clarence Clark 
4TH: Amin Hadzic