What is the first step in the Upper 90 College pathway?

The first step is Assessment & Division Fit — a detailed review of playing level, academic profile, graduation year and long-term development goals to identify realistic division targeting and scholarship positioning.

How does Upper 90 College identify the right US college programs?

We identify programs aligned with the athlete's playing level, academic standards, scholarship opportunity and long-term development. We focus on fit, not volume.

How does coach outreach work for Australian footballers?

We guide structured communication with targeted coaches — not bulk emails. This includes highlight positioning, profile presentation and building meaningful coach conversations.

What help is provided when a scholarship offer is made?

We assist families with evaluating scholarship structures, comparing programs, balancing academics and athletics, and long-term development considerations to make the best decision.

Does Upper 90 College guarantee a Division 1 placement?

No. We do not guarantee placements and do not promise Division 1. We provide strategic targeting, honest assessment, long-term development focus and structured guidance.

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NCAA D1 → A-League Women Pro

Emma Bates

NCAA Division I – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana

From: Newcastle Jets Academy / Northern Tigers FC / Adamstown Rosebuds

Athletic Scholarship – NCAA Division I (Louisiana Lafayette & Texas A&M Corpus Christi)

Emma Bates — NCAA Division I soccer player at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, placed by Upper 90 College

The Journey

Emma Bates is the living embodiment of what the Upper 90 College pathway can produce – a young Australian woman who leveraged four years of elite NCAA Division I development to earn her first professional contract in the A-League Women. Born in Nottingham, England, and raised from age four on the Central Coast of NSW, Emma was a footballing prodigy from the start. By her teenage years she had represented the Newcastle Jets Academy, Northern Tigers FC, and Adamstown Rosebuds in the Football NSW National Premier League 1 – one of the toughest junior competitions in Australia. She was named captain and co-MVP of her NSW Combined High Schools team in 2021, selected for the NSW Combined High Schools State Team, and earned recognition as a Football Australia Identified Player before being called into the Australian Under-17 squad – the Junior Matildas. At Wadalba Community School on the Central Coast she was appointed vice captain and won both the Senior Player of the Year and Golden Boot awards. Upper 90 evaluated Emma's profile and placed her at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette – an NCAA Sun Belt Conference program – where she enrolled in 2022. After a difficult freshman year disrupted by injury (seven appearances), she broke through in her sophomore season, making 16 appearances with 10 starts, contributing 2 goals and 5 points, and becoming a consistent performer in the midfield. Seeking a fresh challenge, Emma transferred to Texas A&M Corpus Christi for her junior year (2024), making 16 appearances with 6 starts and playing 664 minutes in her first season with the Islanders, recording 3 assists. While at university she also spent a season with Eagle FC in Pennsylvania, winning the Mid-Atlantic Division 1 title. After completing her US college career, Emma returned to Australia and signed her first professional contract with the Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2025/26 A-League Women season. Now 22, she has made 9 professional appearances for the Jets, logging 718 minutes and establishing herself as a composed, ball-playing centre-back with genuine professional quality. Her story is a direct confirmation of what John Stevanja and the Upper 90 team believe: the US college system is the clearest stepping stone to professional football for the next generation of Australian women.

Challenges Overcome

Emma's freshman year at Louisiana Lafayette was severely disrupted by injury, limiting her to just seven appearances. Returning from injury to become a reliable contributor took mental resilience and physical dedication. Transferring from Louisiana to Texas A&M Corpus Christi required adapting to a new coaching staff, new teammates, and a new tactical system mid-career. Making the leap from US college soccer to professional football in the A-League Women – competing against experienced professionals at age 22 – was the ultimate test, one Emma has met with composure and class.

Achievements

A-League Women professional with Newcastle Jets FC (2025/26 season onwards) – 9 appearances, 718 minutes played. Mid-Atlantic Division 1 Champion with Eagle FC (Pennsylvania). NCAA Division I career across Louisiana Lafayette and Texas A&M Corpus Christi: 39 total appearances, 2 goals, 5 assists. Football Australia Identified Player and Australian Under-17 (Junior Matildas) representative. NSW Combined High Schools State Team selection and team MVP (2021). Newcastle Jets Academy and Northern Tigers NPL1 representative. Senior Player of the Year and Golden Boot at Wadalba Community School.

"We found John and the Upper 90 College team a pleasure to deal with. Their thorough and professional approach to securing a dream scholarship for our daughter alleviated any potential stresses throughout the process. Upper 90 utilised its network across the US to find a good fit from both a soccer and academic standpoint."

— Richard Bates, Emma's father

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