Former University of Nevada soccer standout Aivi Luik (2005-06) is enjoying a successful professional soccer career in Eurpoe. Luik is currently on loan to WFC (Womens Football Club) Naftokhimik in Kalush, Ukraine from FC Indiana in the United States.
“It is amazing. It’s a dream come true to be playing professional soccer,” Luik said. “It is competitive, hard work, and fun and something that I have wanted to be since I was a kid. It makes me very proud to say I am a professional footballer.”
Much like she did when she first stepped foot onto Mackay Stadium during her first year at Nevada in 2005, Luik has had an immediate impact with Naftokhimik. She scored all three of Naftokhimik’s game winners against KŚ AZS Wrocław, FC PAOK and FC Levadia Tallinn in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women’s Cup first qualifying round group.
Game heroics are nothing new to Luik who has throughout her collegiate and professional career scored the game-winning goal on more than one occasion. She recorded the game-winning penalty kick with Nevada in 2006 to send the team to the NCAA Tournament. Luik also recorded the winning penalty kick to give her Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team, FC Indiana, the WPSL Championship. Luik credits her time playing with FC Indiana for helping her develop and mature as a player.
“Throughout my time with FC Indiana from 2005-07, I have learned to become more physical, to play quicker and to think before I make a decision rather than relying mostly on passion and adrenaline,” Luik said. “It is a very organized club with winning goals.”
Luik, a native of Gold Coast, Australia, said that one of the biggest changes since becoming a professional is her whole life revolves around soccer. She is training twice a day and has learned how important rest can be to her success.
“With the professional title comes professional expectations,” Luik said. “We are expected, rather than told, to make the right decisions with keeping fit, eating right, running extra if need be and not participating in things that will hinder our performance.”
Off the field, Luik said adjusting to life in Ukraine was a culture shock but she is now settled in. Technology is not very easy to come by, she said, and the language barrier has been difficult at times, although, she is learning more each week.
“It’s hard living in a country where English is not the native language both on and off the field,” Luik said. “Luckily for me I have a teammate from Spain who spent three months playing in Russia so she translates a lot for me. But I’m learning more every week.
“At first it was a huge culture shock but now I’m settled in,” she said. “Keeping in contact with loved ones is hard because technology is not easy to come by. You definitely learn to appreciate technology and the easiness of the Western lifestyle.”
While the language barrier has been the biggest challenge for Luik playing in Ukraine she has noticed the game in Ukraine isn’t as physical as soccer is in the United States.
“The biggest challenge of playing in Ukraine has definitely been the language barrier followed closely by the referees,” Luik said with a laugh. “American soccer is physical and here it is not so much. I get called for a lot of fouls that wouldn’t even deserve a second glance by American referees.”
During her two-year playing career at Nevada, Luik established herself as a physical, hardworking team player who never quit on the play. Nevada teammate Jessica Thompson said when she played alongside Luik in Nevada’s midfield from 2005-06, Thompson could see Luik’s passion.
“On the field Aivi was the type of player who would battle, compete, and play 100 percent all 90 minutes. Her passion and love for the game shinned through when she was playing,” Thompson said. “For me, and I'm sure many of the other girls, she was and still is an inspiration to all of us. Off the field she was one of my best friends and always there for me. She was dedicated to school, eating healthy and staying fit. She was responsible and knew when she needed to be serious and focused versus being the crazy, fun, adventurous girl she is.”
Luik began her collegiate playing career at Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky., before transferring to Nevada as a junior in 2005. Luik made an immediate impact at Nevada playing in 42 games with 41 starts. She ended her career with nine goals, seven assists and 25 points. Luik left her name in the Nevada career record book as she is tied for sixth in goals (nine), tied for seventh in assists (seven) and is tied for eighth in points (25).
Luik was named to the All-WAC second team in 2005 and was named team MVP in 2006 after helping lead the Pack to a WAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. She served as a team captain in 2006 and was also named to the WAC All-Academic Team.
Antoinette Marjanovic who coached Luik at Nevada from 2005-06, described Luik as a player with a great work ethic and someone who was very driven and dedicated.
“Aivi was a tremendous addition to the Nevada Wolf Pack. On the field she had an unbelievable work ethic, she never quit and gave 100 percent to the team day in and day out,” said Marjanovic, who is now an assistant coach at Kansas. “She played with a passion I had never seen before. Her drive and commitment to succeed in all aspects of her life have given her the opportunity to fulfill her dream of playing at the professional level. It is wonderful to see a former student-athlete succeed at such a high level and I look forward to seeing Aivi play for her country one day.”
Luik is excited about the new women’s professional soccer league in the United States, which is slated to start in 2009, for the chance is gives players to continue playing after their collegiate careers are over.
“I am very excited to see how well some of my previous teammates from FC Indiana will do playing in the new league. I also am very happy that once again the young girls of America can set their goals to playing professional football after college, that it won't have to end at the college level,” Luik said. “They will also be able to look up to and gain inspiration from a new generation of professional women soccer players.”
As for Luik, she has her sights set on playing for her National Team after spending some more time in Europe and in the new Australian professional league.
“All I need now to be completely satisfied is to play for my National Team and compete in the World Cup,” Luik said.
More information about Luik and her team can be found at the following links:
http://wfc-naftokhimik.at.ua/
http://wfc-naftokhimik.at.ua/photo/12
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/womencup/news/kind=1/newsid=758975.html
http://www.fcindiana.com/index.html
