 He played four years college soccer for the UNLV Rebels, earning Second Team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honours as a sophomore in 2006.During his college years Paterson also played two seasons for Des Moines Menace in the USL Premier Development League scoring 15 goals earning top scorer in both seasons.Paterson returned to the professional ranks in 2009 when he was signed by the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division.