Siena Senatore
NCAA Division I – Southeast Missouri State University
Missouri
From: Canberra United / ACT Academy of Sport
Athletic Scholarship – NCAA Division I (OVC)
The Journey
Siena Senatore is one of the most academically and athletically impressive alumni in Upper 90 College history – a Canberra-born defender/midfielder who represented Australia at the highest junior levels and went on to earn a PhD in Biomechanics while competing in NCAA Division I soccer. Growing up in Canberra, Siena was a standout through the ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) – a high-performance arm of the Australian Sports Commission. She amassed 20-plus international caps representing Australia at the U13, U15, and U17 levels as part of the Young Matildas and Mini Matildas programs, was a two-time national finalist, and successfully earned a place on the U19 Australian National training squad. In 2010 she was named Capital Football Player of the Year and became the first ACTAS player to compete for the national team in the 13- and 14-year-old age groups. Placed at Southeast Missouri State University in the Ohio Valley Conference, Siena made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2015, playing 1,130 minutes across 18 matches, earning OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition, and demonstrating the kind of defensive intelligence that reflected her elite Australian development. Off the field, Siena's achievements are extraordinary. She majored in engineering physics (mechanical application) with a math minor, and has since built a career as a Sports Biomechanist and PhD Candidate – combining her passion for sport and science in a way that embodies the best of the US college student-athlete experience.
Challenges Overcome
Transitioning from Canberra's elite youth football environment to the OVC in the American Midwest was a significant cultural and athletic challenge. Managing the demands of an engineering physics degree while competing at the D1 level required exceptional discipline and time management.
Achievements
20+ international caps for Australia (U13, U15, U17 Young Matildas). Two-time national finalist. U19 Australian National training squad. 2010 Capital Football Player of the Year. ACT Academy of Sport representative. OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll (2015). 18 matches and 1,130 minutes as a D1 freshman. Post-graduation: PhD Candidate in Sports Biomechanics.
"US college soccer gave me the platform to pursue elite sport and academic ambitions simultaneously. I couldn't have done what I've done without that foundation."
— Siena Senatore
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