Photo: GoBonnies.com
BY JONNY WALKER, SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
He took two short, quick jab steps before making a hard cut to his right. The ball seemed to cling to the outside of his right foot as he crossed the defender’s face.
Foomp!
Rafael Pereira struck the ball, firing it between two lunging defenders. The ball curled into the top-right corner of the net past the keeper’s outstretched hands.
“It’s a moment … that has stuck with me so far,” said Pereira, a junior forward for the St. Bonaventure University men’s soccer team.
The Lisboa, Portugal native turned to face the home crowd at the Marra Athletics Complex. He raised a celebratory finger to the sky before pumping his fist as teammates began to mob him.
That goal put Bonaventure up, 1-0, on Bucknell in what would become the Bonnies first win of the 2022 season. Pereira later recorded an assist on the play that put his team up, 2-0 — the game’s final score.
“We’ve had a pretty good start to the season,” said Pereira, quick to deflect praise onto his teammates.
Pereira has played in all seven of Bonaventure’s games thus far this season, starting in the last four. The 2022 season is Pereira’s first as a Bonnie.
Before catching the eye of Bonaventure head coach Kwame Oduro, Pereira made many stops along the way from Lisboa to western New York. Pereira said at no point, however, did he consider not pursuing soccer.
“I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember,” said Pereira. “I used to play soccer everyday with my friends after school, so it’s something I have always wanted to do.”
At age 12 Pereira moved to England to attend boarding school. There, he would go on to lead his high school, Millfield, to a national championship at the U16-U18 level. He said England is where the idea of playing collegiate soccer in America truly grabbed him.
“Growing up in England, some friends of mine moved to America for soccer,” said Pereira. “So, I knew it was a possibility for me as well. When I got the chance to come, I didn’t think twice.”
In spring 2021, Pereira made his American debut with Ashland, an NCAA Division II program. Pereira wasted no time kickstarting his collegiate career, earning his conference’s freshman of the year honors. He followed that up by leading Ashland with 9 assists in his sophomore season.
Pereira said despite his individual success, something didn’t feel right.
“After two years, I knew I needed something different,” said Pereira. “After coach Kwame [Oduro] reached out to me, I thought it [St. Bonaventure] would be a great place for me to continue my college career.”
Surrounded by smiling teammates after netting his first Division I goal against Bucknell, Pereira said he appreciated finding a “really good group of guys.” And whether it be his teammates or his family, Pereira was quick to thank those to whom he owes some of his success.
“My parents have helped me so much along the way,” said Pereira. “I am very fortunate they have always been there for me.”
walkerjc20@bonaventure.edu
