Samantha Roff

The Journey

Samantha Roff is one of Upper 90 College's most decorated alumni – a Canberra-born defender who rose from Australia's national football development pathway to become a two-time First Team All-Northeast Conference defender at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. Before making the move to the US, Samantha spent three years on scholarship at the ACT Academy of Sport, which served as the FFA's Under-17 National Training Centre in Canberra – one of the most prestigious junior development pathways in Australian football. She also secured a 'train on' agreement with Canberra United of the W-League, confirming her elite-level ability before she had even set foot on a US college campus. Arriving at FDU in spring 2016, Samantha immediately made her mark. As a freshman, she was named to the NEC All-Rookie Team after starting 18 of 19 games and helping anchor a defense that posted three shutouts in conference play. In 2017, she earned her first First Team All-NEC selection, starting all 21 games and playing all 1,999 minutes as FDU conceded just six goals in NEC contests. In 2018, she was named First Team All-NEC for the second consecutive year, anchoring a defense that conceded only nine goals across eight NEC games. Off the field, Samantha was equally exemplary. She made the NEC Academic Honor Roll three times, graduated from FDU in 2020 with a 3.7 GPA in Business Administration, earning honours for her academic achievement. Samantha's story is the gold standard for the Upper 90 College pathway – a player developed by Australia's elite junior system who went on to dominate NCAA Division I competition.

Achievements

2x First Team All-Northeast Conference Defender (2017, 2018). NEC All-Rookie Team (2016). 3x NEC Academic Honor Roll. 3.7 GPA – Business Administration. Graduated with Honors, FDU (2020). Former ACT Academy of Sport (FFA U17 NTC) scholarship athlete. 'Train On' agreement – Canberra United W-League.

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