A BUDDING soccer superstar is heading stateside to realise her childhood dream of playing football at a professional level.

Kylie Jones, 19, has won a four-year scholarship at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where she will join the NJIT Highlanders for the 2011 season.

Former Ellesmere Port Catholic High School pupil Kylie will be playing in the NCAA Division I side from August and is being touted as one of the leading signings for the Highlanders this season.

“It’s really exciting but I’m quite nervous,” said Kylie.

“I’ve been playing since I was six and I can’t wait to have all the training and use all the facilities they have over there. It’s a huge place.”

Kylie was scouted to attend The Liverpool Centre of Excellence when she was 13 and now plays for Chester City Ladies first team.

Centre midfield Kylie, who’s played for both the Tranmere and Cheshire County sides, travelled to London to be filmed by scouts from scholarship specialists First Point USA a number of times before being handpicked from more than 20 girls this month.

She said: “I feel really lucky to have the opportunity. I’ve tried three to four times and taken part in a showcase game in December.

“That video footage was then shown to colleges in America and New Jersey and Oklahoma offered me a place.

“I chose New Jersey as it’s bigger and better known for soccer.

“I’ll be studying general education for the first year and then I’ll chasing a major, which will be biology.”

Kylie’s US adventure will be self-funded and she hopes to get a job on campus to support her while she’s there.

She added: “I can’t wait to go but it’s a long way from home, hopefully I can come back for Christmas and the summer to visit my family.

“Everyone is really excited for me.”

If you would like to sponsor Kylie, you can contact her by emailing kylie_5@hotmail.com.