PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers selected midfielder/forward Russell Cicerone from the University of Buffalo and midfielder Romilio Hernandez during the final round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, held Tuesday via conference call.
Portland selected both players in the fourth round, with the Timbers drafting Cicerone (No. 76 overall) with the 10th pick before selecting Hernandez (No. 80 overall) with the 14th pick.
Cicerone, 22, was a four-time selection to the All-Mid-Atlantic Conference first team, becoming the first University of Buffalo player and third Mid-Atlantic Conference player to earn first team All-Mid-Atlantic Conference honors for four consecutive seasons. Additionally, Cicerone became just the second player in University of Buffalo history to win the Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year award following his junior season in 2015.
Starting in each of his 71 career appearances, the Lanham, Md., native concluded his collegiate career ranked first in assists (22), second in goals (42) and second in points (106) in University of Buffalo history, while also ranking third in MAC history in goals and points. In his senior season in 2016, Cicerone tallied a career-high 14 goals and nine assists (37 pts), compiling the second-highest point total for a single season in the school’s history, while helping the Bulls advance to their second consecutive Mid-Atlantic Conference championship match for the first time.
Hernandez, 21, made 77 appearances (71 starts) in four seasons with the University of Louisville. In 2016, Hernandez matched his career high for games played and starts (22), helping the Cardinals advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA championship for the fourth time in the previous seven seasons. At the international level, Hernandez has represented the El Salvador U-20 National Team, competing at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship following his sophomore campaign.
Russell Cicerone
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Born: Nov. 17, 1994, in Bloomfield, Mich.
College: University of Buffalo
Romilio Hernandez
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Born: March 20, 1995, in Lanham, Md.
College: University of Louisville
