Bears at Play

Leader Of The Pack

Northeastern University’s Vivian Akyirem ’22 is flanked by her soccer teammates before a game last season. Akyirem, a midfielder for the Huskies, led the team with 13 goals and was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference’s First Team as a freshman. Akyirem left her native Ghana in 2018 to join Berkshire, where she holds the single-season record for goals with 29.

Dynamic Duo

On August 21, 2022, serendipity struck former Berkshire soccer teammates Vivian Akyirem ’22 and Chioma Okafor ’22. On that date, Akyirem, a freshman midfielder at Northeastern University, and Okafor, a freshman forward at the University of Connecticut, both scored their first collegiate goals. Akyirem found the net 27 minutes into Northeastern’s game against Boston College, while Okafor notched her first goal at the 33-minute mark versus Syracuse. The pair talked with the “Berkshire Bulletin” about their early success on the college pitch and what they miss most about Berkshire.

You both scored your first college goal on the same day, just minutes apart. What was that experience like?

Vivian Akyirem: I play wing. I got a loose ball behind the defender, and I used my speed and then it was just one-on-one with the goalie, and I just flicked it around her. I was a little bit excited when I scored, but to be honest I didn’t know I was going to have a chance to score in that game because I came off the bench. My first game was against Boston University, and I was very nervous and I didn’t play great. But the game against Boston College was a whole different experience, and it turned out to be one of the toughest games I’ve played in. I came off the bench during the first half just two minutes in. The game actually changed everything for me. Right after that game, I started studying film because I was now part of the first 11. And looking back, I think that’s made a huge difference in my college career.

Chioma Okafor: It was amazing. It felt good because we’d played a lot of preseason games, a lot of exhibition games before the game against Syracuse, so it just felt so good to go out there and play in a game that counted. And to get a goal, it was amazing. Syracuse had the ball around midfield, and I managed to steal the ball and then it was just a foot race from there. I kind of swiveled around the goalkeeper and then put the ball in the net. Like Viv said, it just set the tone for the rest of the season. I said to myself, ‘You know, you can score in college, so what can’t you do now at this level?’ It was amazing, honestly.

Other than your first goal, what was the highlight of your freshman year on the pitch?

Akyirem: I’d say helping my team make it into the finals of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament. And also being named the conference Rookie of the Week, which was exciting as a firstyear student.

Okafor: When I scored my hat trick [versus Seton Hall]. It was the last game of the season and I thought, ‘What do you got to lose?’ It was electric. A lot of fans were there to watch the game and several of our players were injured, so we had lots of support coming from the bench as well. It was just nice going out there and leaving it all on the field and scoring three goals against a pretty good team.

What do you enjoy most about playing soccer for your school?

Akyirem: I just love the culture of our team; how inclusive everyone is. Everybody is so supportive. At the end of the day, I can turn to my teammates to talk about anything.

Okafor: The girls on the team are amazing, and it’s always fun to have a group of sisters that care about the sport and are so supportive in every way, on and off the field. Also, UConn is really known for its athletics, and when you get on campus and you’re a part of a team, you feel that competitive spirit between all the teams. At first, I thought of UConn as just a basketball school, but baseball went to the NCAA tournament, softball too, track and field won the Big East, and field hockey went to the Sweet 16. So that’s been memorable, and I’m just glad to be part of it, honestly.

What are some of your goals for the upcoming season?

Okafor: One thing that I’m looking to better myself in is defending. At Berkshire, most of the time we didn’t defend as much because we needed to be aggressive offensively. But I’ve learned this season how important defense is and that it’s going to help my game. I think as a team we’re probably a little bit frustrated with how the season ended in the conference quarterfinal, so we’re just trying to get over that hump.

Akyirem: I also need to work on my defending. The speed of play is so different at the college level. My first three games, I was so tired after just 15 minutes because the speed of play is much faster. I know coming into my sophomore year there will be high expectations for me from my coaches and my teammates, and I’d like to help the team get into the NCAA tournament.

How are your studies going?

Akyirem: I’m studying business. Right now, I’m focusing on marketing and brand management. The second semester was a bit hard because I was taking some tough classes. That way, come fall I will not be as stressed when I travel with the team.

Okafor: I am studying finance and computer science. So, for me the end goal is FinTech. But like Viv mentioned, the spring semester is much harder than the fall because I took a heavier workload so that I can ease off a little bit when the fall comes. I also plan to take some summer classes too.

What do you miss most about Berkshire?

Okafor: Mountain Day!

Akyirem: Oh, Mountain Day!

Yeah, that was fun!

Okafor: I also miss being in Allen Theater, and listening to announcements during All-School Meeting… acting as if nothing’s going to happen, and then Mr. Mulder gets up there and says, “It’s Mountain Day!” And then everyone starts to get electric.

Akyirem: I miss the community. I miss the people. At Berkshire, we were not that big, so we’d interact with everyone. In college, it’s kind of hard to get to know people. I felt more at home at Berkshire because it was small and I was friends with students outside of soccer and track and field.