Ava Peck came to Morehead State with a purpose: to leave her mark on the soccer field.
After a stellar high school career in her hometown of Lebanon, Ohio, Peck was looking for a Division I program to continue her soccer career. She wanted to play for a school that would push her to reach her full potential and help her reach her career aspirations.
One visit to Morehead State was all Peck needed to make her decision.
“I chose Morehead because after I came on my visit, I instantly knew it was where I was meant to be,” said Peck. “The girls were extremely welcoming when I met them, and I really felt like the team was a family. That was very important to me.”
Peck enjoys the competitive environment the soccer program provides, and she is excited to help the Eagles compete for an OVC Championship each year.
“I knew playing here would put me in the best soccer environment possible, so I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” said Peck. “The club has developed me so much as a player and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”
Peck grew up in a smaller town just outside of Dayton, Ohio. Once she started taking soccer seriously, she made the decision to switch to a club in Cincinnati. She traveled over an hour for practices three to four times a week and then played games all around the country.
“It was extremely challenging for me as a high school girl trying to balance everything, and my family made many sacrifices for me to play for this club.”
A forward for the Eagles, Peck said there is no better feeling than scoring goals.
“Scoring a goal is so rewarding, not only for myself, but for my team who helped make the goal happen. It can sometimes be a stressful position because if you don’t score, your team will lose or tie. But I find the position extremely rewarding when it does happen.”
Peck’s favorite moment from last season was scoring her first goal against Detroit Mercy.
“I was coming off the bench in this game, and we were having a hard time trying to score,” said Peck. “I remember just taking off running when the ball was played to me, and I knew I had to score. When I did, it was such a relieving moment, and I ran to my teammates to celebrate.”
Peck’s family was at the game to see her first goal, and she was so happy they could share that moment with her. Peck credits her mom for all the support she has provided throughout her soccer journey.
“My mom is the biggest motivator for me,” said Peck. “She would take me to every practice, trainer, doctor, and never missed a single game. Some weekends, she would drive me many hours from state to state so I could attend various ID camps.”
When Peck tore her ACL, her mom had no doubt she would get back to where she needed to be.
“My mom always believed in me, a lot of times more than I believed in myself. I knew I could never give up because my mom had sacrificed so much for me. Playing in college at the highest level was both of our hard work paying off.”
Outside of soccer, Peck is very passionate about interior design and real estate, which is what she wants to be involved in after college.
“I found this passion during high school, and I very quickly grew to love it. When soccer has consumed so much of my life, it was nice to find something outside the sport that I really loved.”
If Peck could offer advice to younger girls wanting to play soccer at the Division I level, she would tell them to train consistently on their own, even when they don’t feel like it.
“The unseen hours of practicing on your own are what separate you from others,” said Peck. “I would also tell her to put herself in a challenging environment where she knows she will grow.”
Peck stresses that the path is not easy and never perfect. It’s important to stay patient and persistent and to never give up.
“There were so many times when I wanted to give up on playing, but I stayed committed and realized everything truly did happen for a reason to get me here.”
In a recent interview, Peck was asked what her walk up song would be if she could choose one, her response, “No Fear” by DeJ Loaf.Â
“Even though I live my life on the road, Doesn’t mean I don’t have time for you”, lyrics from the song “No Fear”, may be a perfect example of how Peck’s dedication to soccer doesn’t stop her from being the incredible person she is off the field.Â
Balancing soccer and the day-to-day life isn’t an easy challenge, but Peck is continuing to leave her mark, on and off the field.