Soccer Captain Bafuma Rides Confidence Boost To College

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY BAFUMA

Playing soccer has always seemed natural for Emily Bafuma. Born with an abundance of energy, she developed a love for the game that drove her to succeed and athleticism that helped her shine on the pitch. Together those qualities have put the Southington senior in a position to continue her standout career at the college level.

“I had a lot of energy growing up. I was a very energetic, active kid, I was always running around,” Bafuma said. “When I was little, they just signed me up for soccer and I loved it. I had a lot of friends there, so I stuck with it.” 

Bafuma began playing soccer when she was around six-years-old. Her mother Roxanne and neighbor Matt convinced her to play and served as some of her first coaches in the rec league.

A few years later she joined the Southington Soccer Club. There she learned the fundamentals and got the basic skills down. While she still had a long way to go, she was beginning to see what it would take to succeed in the sport.

Bafuma ultimately settled into her position as a left winger. Outside forward is a position that demands speed and energy, and plenty of running. Bafuma welcomed the challenge, using her natural gifts to her advantage.

“It’s definitely one of the more fitness-heavy positions on the field,” Bafuma said. “It’s a lot of running, you go box-to-box on the end line. I was always faster and athletic. While playing that position, my speed and running ability have really helped me.”

Eventually Bafuma was ready for the jump to high school soccer. It was a no-brainer decision to join the Blue Knights as a freshman. Still, she wasn’t looking at the big picture of her career - she just wanted to play.

“I didn’t go into it seeing it as an end point,” Bafuma said. “I just loved it, so I kept doing it.”

NMR PHOTOGRAPHY

Bafuma’s Junior Year Marks Major Step Up

She began her tenure with the Blue Knights on the JV squad. Bafuma admits it was a big step up from the competition she was used to. But with the support of her upperclassmen and friends, Bafuma was able to find her footing at the high school level.

“It was definitely a much higher, much faster level of play,” Bafuma said. “The main difference between the levels of soccer is how much faster it gets. Competing against bigger, stronger girls was definitely a challenge. I’m like 5’1”, on the shorter side, so that was something to get used to.”

As a sophomore she was cross-rostered, playing both JV and varsity. She also played club soccer, joining a team, Vale, which also featured Southington senior Gianna Mathews and junior Alannah Terry. Bafuma felt an instant spark on Vale and knew it was the club team for her.

But the new team brought challenges. Now playing through both winter and spring, Bafuma had to be much more cautious. She wasn’t able to do the same workouts she did year round.

“It’s definitely a lot,” Bafuma said. “I have to focus on staying healthy, injury prevention. I like to lift, I like being in the gym. During high school season, with practices every day, that’s just not something that would benefit me. The lifting would slow me down or overwork me. In the winter and spring when club practices are only like three days a week with one or two games, I’m able to fit in more strength training.”

During Bafuma’s first season with Vale she focused on the technical aspect of her game. Rather than relying on her speed, she wanted to have more control and touch. She knew she needed to do more than just run after the ball and shoot.

Her dedication paid off, as Bafuma was named a starter for the Blue Knights entering her junior season.

“Going into junior year, I had gotten a lot better with my new club,” Bafuma said. “I knew it was something I could do. I thought I very much belonged there. I was really nervous in the summer going into junior year, because I really wanted to make it. I feel like I had a little bit of pressure on myself. But it was all okay, I had so much fun and still ended up making it.”

A Senior With New Goals

Having won a starting spot on the squad, Bafuma went into her senior season with clear goals. On the pitch, she wanted to play with more confidence. And she wanted everyone else on the squad to know they had their own important roles to play.

“I wanted to get a lot more confident in my play. I didn’t want to just give the ball away as soon as I got it, I wanted to be able to take it myself,” Bafuma said. “For team culture, I wanted to make sure everybody, even if you’re a freshman, felt included. I wanted to be friendly with everyone and build a comfortable space and unified team. That’s something we achieved this year – how many friendships were made, how many people we all met.”

Bafuma was able to reach her goals as one of four senior captains on the Blue Knights. She joined Mathews, Abbie Patavino and Emily Boucher in helping Southington girls soccer become a tight-knit group.

“I just wanted to make sure everyone was heard and included, and having fun,” Bafuma said. “Yes, it’s a competitive sport and we want to win. But you’re with these girls every single day. Practices are going to be hard, it’s hard work. Soccer isn’t easy. But it only works if we’re all friends and all get along. Everyone got along so well. That was one of our strengths.”

Whether at Vale or at the high school, Bafuma has spent much of her soccer journey alongside Mathews. As both prepare for the jump to college soccer, Mathews won’t soon forget what it was like playing and being alongside Bafuma.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be by my side,” Mathews said. “Emily is one of the most positive people you will ever meet and her energy is so contagious. I can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes at the collegiate level.”

All seven seniors on this year’s Southington roster had a special moment at this year’s Senior Night. The Blue Knights came away with a 10-1 win over Maloney. Bafuma remembers the excitement and the energy; it’s a game that will stick with her long after graduation.

Bafuma said she has achieved her senior year goal of playing with confidence. It’s something she has worked on since she was a freshman. Now, as she prepares to leave the Blue Knights, Bafuma walks onto the pitch with a more specific aim in mind.

“Normally I would be the workhorse,” Bafuma said. “I would just run down the sides, and if I got the ball I would just try and cross it to the center or immediately or pass it off. This year, I kept it at my feet a little more. The passes I made, I tried to make it be not just the first person I saw. I tried to make good decisions and take my time. In some games I think I was better at keeping the ball and being confident in my ability.”

Bafuma (No. 4) with her teammates NMR PHOTOGRAPHY

Bafuma Heads To Roger Williams

When Bafuma began her college tour, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to pursue. She also didn’t know if she would play soccer at the DIII level or club. But then she went to an open house at Roger Williams, and the big picture finally emerged.

Bafuma walked into the School of Architecture and was immediately astonished. She knew she was always artistic and good at math. The architecture program seemed like a perfect fit – and the campus’ waterside views didn’t hurt. With her major chosen, and an opportunity to play DIII soccer before her, Bafuma knew that Roger Williams was the right place.

“I walked into their School of Architecture. I saw all of the models the students had done. I was just like, “Oh my gosh, I would absolutely love building these.’ This is what I want to do,” Bafuma said. “It was a perfect combination of my skills.”

After her visit, Bafuma reached out to the Roger Williams coaching staff. She then attended an ID clinic, which allowed her to showcase her kills. Once Bafuma met with the team, her commitment to Roger Williams only became more solid. Bafuma knew playing for the Hawks would be perfect.

For a while, playing at the college level didn’t seem attainable, at least in Bafuma’s mind. It took a lot of effort for her to realize what she was capable of. But Bafuma never stopped moving towards that goal. Once she realized what was possible, the sky was the limit.

“Freshman, sophomore year, I didn’t think I’d be good enough to play in college,” Bafuma said. “Junior year, I started to get a little better. With the confidence I gained and the feeling that I could do this, I just have to work on this, this and this, I realized, ‘Wait, I can do this – and I want to.’ This is a sport I love and I can work for it, I can get there.”

Bafuma will be taking the confidence she gained at Southington to the next level. She says her positive attitude and ability to keep things light will be joining her too. While making the leap to college may be daunting, Bafuma is elated she’ll be doing so with her Roger Williams teammates.

“Soccer has been a huge part of my life for so long,” Bafuma said. “It has made me so many long lasting friendships, given me some of my closest friends.”

“Going into college, walking in with a group of people you’re already spending a lot of time with gave me another sense of security,” Bafuma said. “College is a little scary, you don’t know if you’re going to be able to make a lot of friends. If we all have a common interest, we’re all working hard together, it will help me build more friendships and relationships in college early on.”

See NMR Photography for more SHS Girls Soccer photos.