PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today selected two players over the final two rounds of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, held Monday via conference call. The Timbers selected defender Francesco Moore from Indiana University in the third round (No. 71 overall) and midfielder David Zalzman from the University of Memphis in the fourth round (No. 95 overall).
Moore, 23, was selected by the Timbers after making 88 appearances (86 starts) and tallying three goals and eight assists as a four-year starter at Indiana University (2015-18). Moore twice earned first-team All-Big Ten honors (2017, 2018) and was a member of the Indiana defense that led the NCAA in shutouts for two consecutive seasons (2017-18). Moore helped lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back College Cup appearances (2017, 2018), and was a key contributor in IU’s 2018 Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. A native of Highland Park, Ill., Moore was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2015 after starting all 21 matches as a redshirt freshman.
A three-year starter for Memphis University (2015-18), Zalzman, 22, appeared in 48 matches (48 starts) for the Tigers, recording six goals and seven assists in his collegiate career. The Maracay, Venezuela, native tallied four goals as captain of the Tigers his senior campaign in 2018, en route to earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Zalzman earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors his junior season after starting all 14 matches and tallying two goals and three assists. Zalzman is a graduate of FC Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy, playing three years for Barcelona’s U-13, U-14 and U-15 teams. At the international level, Zalzman has represented Venezuela at U-17 level, including starting all three matches for La Vinotinto in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.
Francesco Moore
Pronunciation: fran-CHESS-co
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Born: Dec. 20, 1995
College: Indiana University
Citizenship: United States
David Zalzman
Pronunciation: DA-veed
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Born: March 4, 1996
College: University of Memphis
Citizenship: Venezuela