HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHT
Two of Kind
By Jordan Cornet
I nternational students and longtime friends Aleksandar Vukovic and Luka Lukic have made their mark on the UCR soccer team. Both hailing from Serbia — Vukovic from Nova Pazova and Lukic from Belgrade — the pair arrived at UCR together in 2022 and played key roles in securing the men’s soccer team’s Big West Championship victory last fall. Off the field, Vukovic and Lukic work for the UCR athletics department, recording stats for basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and soccer, and helping produce over 100 home games a year. With a strong soccer tradition in both their families and home country, their dream is to someday play professionally. Here are some highlights on these promising athletes:
ALEKSANDAR VUKOVIC
YEAR
SENIOR
MAJOR
BUSINESS, FINANCE
POSITION
DEFENDER
HIGHLIGHTS
- 2022 Big West regular season and conference tournament champions
- 2022-23 Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll
- 2022 First Team All-Big West
- 2021 NJCAA National Tournament participant
Life is not easy, and nothing comes easy in life. You have to keep going and not give up.”
LUKA LUKIC
YEAR
JUNIOR
MAJOR
ECONOMICS
POSITION
FORWARD
HIGHLIGHTS
- 2022 Big West regular season and conference tournament champions
- 2022-23 Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll
- 2021 NAIA Men’s Soccer All-American
- 2021 KCAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year
David Beckham was the first player I ever saw play. I was amazed by him and this inspired me to start playing at 5 years old.”
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Return to UCR Magazine: Fall 2023