Zoe Edwards
NAIA – Keiser University
Florida
From: Freshwater FC / NSW State Champion
Athletic Scholarship – NAIA
The Journey
Zoe Edwards made history in 2025, becoming Upper 90 College's first-ever female National Champion – and the sixth Australian National Champion across 15 years of the Upper 90 program. Growing up in Sydney's Northern Beaches, Zoe starred for Freshwater Senior Campus, helping her school claim the NSW High School State Championship in both 2022 and 2023. Her consistent excellence in the NSW Premier League environment caught the attention of Upper 90 Founder John Stevanja, who identified her immediately as a player with the attributes to thrive in the US college game: athletic, intelligent, competitive, and relentlessly hard-working. After being placed at Keiser University in Delray Beach, Florida – one of the NAIA's most competitive programs – Zoe adapted quickly to the demands of American college soccer. In her freshman year she appeared in three games, learning the system and earning the trust of the coaching staff. By her sophomore year she had become a key contributor, starting 13 games and totalling 10 appearances, recording one goal across her career as she formed part of a cohesive, championship-calibre squad. On May 27, 2025, Zoe and her Keiser University teammates were crowned 2025 NAIA Women's Soccer National Champions – completing one of the great journeys available to any young Australian footballer. Her achievement put her alongside Upper 90 legends Daniel Linstead, Eric Birighitti, Zac Harvey-Latham, and Simon Kalinauskas as program National Champions, while also becoming the program's first female champion. Zoe's story also reflects a broader truth about the US college soccer pathway: the women's game in America has never been more professionally aligned. Following her footsteps, Upper 90 alumna Emma Bates signed a professional contract with the Newcastle Jets A-League Women – demonstrating that the US college system is now a clear stepping stone to professional football for Australian women.
Challenges Overcome
Leaving Sydney's Northern Beaches as a teenager to compete in the NAIA's hyper-competitive Florida environment was no small undertaking. Zoe had to adapt to a far more physical and tactically intense style of play than she had experienced at the elite NSW level. As an international student-athlete, she also navigated the challenges of living away from home for the first time, building new relationships, and managing both academic and sporting demands. In her freshman year, limited game time demanded patience and resilience – qualities she carried into her sophomore campaign.
Achievements
2025 NAIA Women's Soccer National Champion with Keiser University. NSW High School State Champion in 2022 and 2023 with Freshwater Senior Campus. NSW State Champion representative. Became Upper 90 College's first-ever female National Champion and the program's sixth champion overall in 15 years. Part of a Keiser University squad that was ranked #1 in the NAIA Women's Soccer polls heading into the 2025 season.
"John at Upper 90 College was great. He guided us through the process from start to finish. His network in the US is expansive and with so many contacts my daughter had the opportunity to discuss opportunities with multiple colleges."
— Dawn Edwards, Zoe's mother
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