DeGraffenreidt, Hernandez Selected on Final Day of 2017 MLS SuperDraft
January 17, 2017 | Men's Soccer
New York City FC takes DeGraffenreidt in third round, Portland Timbers choose Hernandez in fourth round
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville men's soccer team doubled its number of 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft selections on Tuesday as senior defender Michael DeGraffenreidt went in the third round (60th selection overall) to New York City FC and senior midfielder Romilio Hernandez was chosen in the fourth round (80th overall) by the Portland Timbers.
With the addition of DeGraffenreidt and Hernandez to first round selection Daniel Johnson (Chicago Fire) and second round pick Stefan Cleveland (Chicago Fire), chosen on the first day of the SuperDraft last Friday, the Cardinals equaled a school record with four MLS SuperDraft picks matching the totals from 2012 and 2013. Louisville's four selections also tied for the highest total from any school in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and was matched only by Syracuse and USF. Â
DeGraffenreidt closed his collegiate career with 76 starts and 77 total appearances during his four years at Louisville. As a senior in 2016, he made 18 starts at center back and was key contributor as Cardinals finished with 10 shutouts and closed the season ranked No. 6 nationally. As a freshman in 2013, DeGraffenreidt earned Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors and was named to league's All-Rookie Team while playing an important defensive role as Louisville set school records for consecutive minutes played without allowing a goal (560) and consecutive shutouts with five.
Hernandez completed his collegiate career with 69 starts and 77 total appearances in four seasons with the Cardinals. He started all 22 matches as a senior contributing one assist in victory at UConn. As a junior, he started all 19 matches scoring two goals and adding one assist, while in 2014, he started all 22 games and scored his first career collegiate goal in a win over Duke.
Louisville closed the season ranked sixth nationally in the final NSCAA Top 25 and finished with a 14-6-2 record after advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in the last seven seasons.
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter (@UofLmenssoccer) at http://twitter.com/uoflmenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UofLmenssoccer.
ALL-TIME LOUISVILLE MLS SUPERDRAFT PICKS
2017
Daniel Johnson - Chicago Fire - 1st Round - 11th overall
Stefan Cleveland - Chicago Fire – 2nd Round - 26th overall
Michael DeGraffenreidt - New York City FC - 3rd Round - 60th overall
Romilio Hernandez - Portland Timbers - 4th Round - 80th overall
2015
Daniel Keller - LA Galaxy - 3rd Round - 62nd overall
2014
Marlon Hairston - Colorado Rapids - 1st Round - 12th overall
Jimmy Ockford - Seattle Sounders - 2nd Round - 21st overall
2013
Andrew Farrell - New England Revolution - 1st Round - 1st overall
Paolo DelPiccolo - Montreal Impact - 2nd Round - 27th overall
Greg Cochrane - LA Galaxy - 2nd Round - 38th overall
Brock Granger - Real Salt Lake - Supplemental 3rd Round - 88th overall
2012
Nick DeLeon - DC United - 1st Round - 7th overall
Austin Berry - Chicago Fire - 1st Round - 9th overall
Colin Rolfe - Houston Dynamo - 1st Round - 18th overall
Kenney Walker - LA Galaxy - 2nd Round - 38th overall
2011
J.T. Murray - Sporting Kansas City - 2nd Round - 32nd overall
Charlie Campbell - FC Dallas - 2nd Round - 35th overall
2004
Adrian Cann - Colorado Rapids - 1st Round - 16th overall
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