After first pulling on the gloves as a 10-year-old, Paterson vowed it was not the position for her.
"I just hated it and never wanted to do it again," she said.
Two years later, Paterson was thrown into goal again when she trialled for representative teams, but this time, she came away with a different outlook.
Since then, the 20-year-old has been a mainstay in goal and never looked back, loving the opportunities that come with being one of the only specialist positions on the park.
"It’s so much different to anything else. It’s nice playing a different position.
"Pulling off saves is probably one of the best feelings ever."
She is pretty good at it too, already having a clean sheet under her belt to start Southern United’s national league campaign.
Paterson has come through the Southern United pathway, first with the under-18 side and then stepping up to the national league team.
She worked her way up to be the first choice keeper by the end of last season, where Southern United made the final.
The national league had been fast paced and a step up from other competitions, which Paterson relished as she looked to develop her game further.
Having a strong defensive structure in Hannah Mackay-Wright and Toni Power, with the addition of Alisa Tuatagaloa out the front made Paterson’s job easier.
She could rely on them for support and that showed in their opening 0-0 draw against Eastern Suburbs two weeks ago.
"Once we got out on the field it was like we’d been playing together for literally the whole year.
"It was good to see that we can actually do it, and hold our own, and actually dominate the game."
Paterson, whose older sister, Esme, is an Aqua Black who competed at the Oceania swimming championships earlier this year, started playing football when she was 4.
She played for Dunedin Technical, Mosgiel, Green Island and joined Dunedin City Royals this season, and loved representing Southern United.
"I feel like every year everyone’s always looking forward to Southern United, because it’s just where everyone comes together.
"We just push to try get into that grand final and the football is just so good."
She had also been selected for national under-20 camps the past two years, which aided her development.
Southern United’s game against Central was called off last week due to the state of emergency weather in Dunedin.
They head to Auckland today to play Western Springs, who are coming off a 3-3 draw against West Coast Rangers.
Paterson, and most Southern United players, are familiar with Western Springs this season after Dunedin City Royals lost 3-0 to them in the Kate Sheppard Cup semifinal. Western Springs eventually lost 1-0 to Auckland United in the final.
"We’re all ready to get back out there and prove that we can actually give them a good challenge and push for the three points.
"I think we have a really good chance. Everyone’s ready for the game — it’s going to be a good battle."
