For most elite athletes, the penalty spot is a place of singular focus and immense pressure. For Emily Cabral, it is also a laboratory.
The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) senior and Bermuda Women’s National Team standout is proving that her impact on the game extends far beyond the pitch. A former captain of the Bermuda Under-20 side and a gold medalist at the 2025 Island Games, Cabral is now leveraging her international experience to spearhead groundbreaking research in sports science.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Pradeep Vanguri, Cabral is conducting a study that blends sports psychology, neuroscience, and high-performance athletics. Her research utilizes a wearable EEG device to track brainwave function as players step up to the spot. By monitoring specific wavelengths, she aims to identify the mental state best suited for clinical execution under pressure.
"Research can open your eyes to entirely new fields and perspectives," says Cabral. "Understanding the 'why' behind performance is just as important as the 'how' on the field."
The study also incorporates personality testing—specifically measuring introversion and extroversion—to determine which athletes remain most calm and focused during a match's most decisive moments.
Cabral’s shift toward the clinical side of the sport was born from personal adversity. After navigating a grueling ACL rehabilitation process at NSU’s Sports Medicine Clinic, her perspective on athletic health was transformed. Rather than viewing the injury as a setback, she used it as a springboard, eventually becoming the President of the Exercise Science Student Organization.
The Emily Cabral File: Academic Major: Exercise and Sports Science Current Research: Brain function and personality traits in penalty kicks Next Goal: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) International Honors: Island Games Gold Medalist (2025), Bermuda Senior National Team player
As a finalist to present her findings at a regional conference in South Carolina, Cabral is already being recognized as a leader in her field. Her ultimate ambition is to return to the sidelines as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, helping the next generation of athletes recover and thrive.
Whether she is scoring international goals or analyzing neural data, Emily Cabral is redefining what it means to be a "student of the game".
