The Football Federation Victoria scholarship places her in an elite squad of the state's top 20 female soccer players under 17.

For Stephanie, who is in year 10 at Mount St Joseph Girls' College, it is a dream come true.

"It was one of the goals I set two years ago," the 15-year-old says.

"I didn't make it the first time. The second time I made a part-time scholarship and the third time I made a full scholarship.

"The next stage, if I didn't make the NTC, it would have been a lot harder. My goal now is probably just to keep improving and learn as much as I can from the coach."

Stephanie is in the Melbourne Victory junior squad.

The scholarship puts her on track to reach her future goals of playing in the W-League and entering the

Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra.

Her ultimate dream is to play for Australia's women's team, the Matildas. The NTC squad hopes to play a tournament in China this year and will also play in the U13A boys' competition.

Stephanie, who played in the Victorian Champions League and is in the Western Wolves under-17 team, says soccer is a growing phenomenon among girls in Melbourne's west.

"A lot of girls in the west that I've played with before just do it for fun and to keep up their fitness and for social [reasons].

"It's physical, but not as physical as Aussie rules," she says.

"I think it has grown a lot in the west.

"This year, we had a lot more girls trying out."