The Portland Timbers selected Connecticut midfielder George Fochive, UCLA forward Victor Chavez and Indiana midfielder Nikita Kotlov on Tuesday in the final two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft. Portland selected Fochive with the first pick in the third round, the 39th overall selection. The Timbers took Chavez and Kotlov in the fourth and final round of the draft.
A defensive midfielder in college, Fochive started 45 games in two seasons at Connecticut. He scored twice and had two assists for the Huskies. Some scouts projected Fochive as a fullback at the pro level.
Chavez, 21, was a four-time all-Pac-12 Conference selection at UCLA, scoring 27 goals in 79 games during his four years as a Bruin. A member of the U.S. under-17 national team for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Chavez also played at the U-18 and U-20 levels for the United States.
Kotlov scored 26 goals in 85 matches for Indiana, including the goal that won the 2012 national championship for the Hoosiers.
The Timbers are expected to begin training next week for their 2014 season. Their first preseason game is on Feb. 1 in Tucson, Ariz.
