Indiana Hoosiers: Francesco Moore selected in MLS Draft

Former Hoosiers soccer player, Francesco Moore, was the third Indiana player selected in the MLS Draft.

As the MLS Super Draft wrapped up on Monday with the final two rounds, Francesco Moore became the third Hoosier to be drafted.

Taken in the third round, number 71 overall, by the Portland Timbers, Moore joined Griffin Dorsey (no. 6) and Rece Buckmaster (no. 32) as the Hoosiers taken in this year’s draft.

The senior defender was named to his second First-Team All-Big Ten selection along with an All-Region selection following the 2018 season. In 88 career matches, Moore made 86 starts and had three goals and eight assists in his career.

Moore was also a part of the stout backline for the Hoosiers that led the entire country in shutouts, with 15 this season, and was part of 54 shutouts in his career.

A four year starter for the Hoosiers, Moore was a crucial part to Indiana’s back-to-back College Cup appearances.

After this draft, with the three Hoosiers being selected, the Hoosiers are now up to 48 players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft since 1996.

With the MLS SuperDraft becoming less important over the last couple of years, Moore will likely compete for a spot on the Timbers’ developmental league team.

Clubs have started to put more of an emphasis on stressing the development of their younger players, by acquiring talent through their academy programs.

If Moore makes the roster, he will be joining a Timber’s club that always makes a deep run in the playoffs, making it to the MLS Finals in two out of the last four years, winning the cup in 2015.