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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Kaylan Williams Signs Pro Contract with Lokomotiv Moscow
3/12/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MOSCOW – University of New Hampshire women's soccer alumnae Kaylan Williams '20 recently signed a contract with WFC Lokomotive Moscow after completing a season with WFC Ramat Hasharon in Israel.
WFC Lokomotiv Moscow is a Russian Women's association football club based in Moscow and competes in the Russian Women's Football Championship, which is the top division of Russian women's football and is affiliated with Lokomotiv Moscow.
The club placed second in the Supreme Division Women Table this past season and won the Russian Super Cup on March 8.
Williams arrived in Moscow on Feb. 20 and, after passing all the medical exams, signed the contract with Lokomotiv on March 3. She is one of eight attackers on the 24-player roster, which has players ranging from 16 to 33 years old. And Williams is just one of two international players on the team (the other is from Brazil).
She had been training with the team, but was unable to play in this week's Super Cup because her work visa was still being processed.
"It was amazing to watch my teammates win the cup and celebrate in front of all the very supportive fans here in Moscow," Williams said. "It just gives me more motivation to train harder each day."
The weather conditions were extreme opposites from her first training day in Israel with 90-degree temperatures to her first training day in Moscow, which was minus-2 degrees.
"I am adjusting to the time change, weather change and the intense training schedule, but I'm looking forward to my first match in the Russian league," Williams said. "Moscow is beautiful and I am looking forward to continue to explore Russia, learn the language and expand my level of play.
"The coach runs a very structured club and is absolutely brilliant," she added. "I am so excited to get the chance to play and learn from her coaching style."
The super league season begins March 13.
During her time with the Wildcats, Williams was a two-time member of the America East Honor Roll, was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2017 and was named to the 2019 America East All-Championship Team. The forward recorded 15 career goals including six from the 2019 season, which ranked second on the team. Williams led the team in assists, shots and shots on goal as a senior. She played each of the 18 games in '19 with 17 starts.
"Kaylan has taken yet another step in her journey as a professional player," UNH women's soccer head coach Steve Welham said. "It is wonderful to see her challenging herself both in the game and in life. Immersing herself in new cultures along with different and demanding styles of play will not only increase her ability as a player but will expose her to new experiences in life she may never have otherwise. We are so happy and proud of all that she has done and who she is becoming."
All four UNH women's soccer pro contract signees have been in the past five years. In addition to Williams, both Brooke Murphy '18 and Kendra Prince '18 signed to play in Sweden, and Caroline Murray '16 played professionally in Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Murray signed another contract with a Sweden-based team this past February.
WFC Lokomotiv Moscow is a Russian Women's association football club based in Moscow and competes in the Russian Women's Football Championship, which is the top division of Russian women's football and is affiliated with Lokomotiv Moscow.
The club placed second in the Supreme Division Women Table this past season and won the Russian Super Cup on March 8.
Williams arrived in Moscow on Feb. 20 and, after passing all the medical exams, signed the contract with Lokomotiv on March 3. She is one of eight attackers on the 24-player roster, which has players ranging from 16 to 33 years old. And Williams is just one of two international players on the team (the other is from Brazil).
She had been training with the team, but was unable to play in this week's Super Cup because her work visa was still being processed.
"It was amazing to watch my teammates win the cup and celebrate in front of all the very supportive fans here in Moscow," Williams said. "It just gives me more motivation to train harder each day."
The weather conditions were extreme opposites from her first training day in Israel with 90-degree temperatures to her first training day in Moscow, which was minus-2 degrees.
"I am adjusting to the time change, weather change and the intense training schedule, but I'm looking forward to my first match in the Russian league," Williams said. "Moscow is beautiful and I am looking forward to continue to explore Russia, learn the language and expand my level of play.
"The coach runs a very structured club and is absolutely brilliant," she added. "I am so excited to get the chance to play and learn from her coaching style."
The super league season begins March 13.
During her time with the Wildcats, Williams was a two-time member of the America East Honor Roll, was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2017 and was named to the 2019 America East All-Championship Team. The forward recorded 15 career goals including six from the 2019 season, which ranked second on the team. Williams led the team in assists, shots and shots on goal as a senior. She played each of the 18 games in '19 with 17 starts.
"Kaylan has taken yet another step in her journey as a professional player," UNH women's soccer head coach Steve Welham said. "It is wonderful to see her challenging herself both in the game and in life. Immersing herself in new cultures along with different and demanding styles of play will not only increase her ability as a player but will expose her to new experiences in life she may never have otherwise. We are so happy and proud of all that she has done and who she is becoming."
All four UNH women's soccer pro contract signees have been in the past five years. In addition to Williams, both Brooke Murphy '18 and Kendra Prince '18 signed to play in Sweden, and Caroline Murray '16 played professionally in Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Murray signed another contract with a Sweden-based team this past February.
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