While some student-athletes have a straightforward path to their college home, Abby Paterline’s road to Slippery Rock University wasn’t as cut and dry.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Slippery Rock, but it originally didn’t work out,” said Paterline. “I tried to mingle my way over here. I had some connections with my high school coach, some of my family members went here.”
Although her initial plans to attend SRU fell through, a coaching change eventually gave Paterline another opportunity to join the White and Green.
“When Coach Noreen [Herlihy] came from IUP, I thought maybe I had another shot of coming here,” Paterline said. “It just somehow worked out. It was all a big blessing for me to get here, honestly.”
A two-sport athlete at Franklin Regional High School, Paterline earned four letters in soccer and three in track and field. She also earned all-section honors three times, was a two-time All-WPIAL selection, competed for Allegheny Force FC and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Despite her accomplishments in high school, adjusting to the collegiate level presented a new challenge. Rather than being an established standout, Paterline had to find her place among a roster full of talented players.
“Coming in as a ‘big dog’ in high school, these are all great players. Everyone is good,” Paterline said. “So just finding my way, finding my role on the team as a freshman all over again was probably the hardest thing.”
Paterline was not the only Franklin Regional player making that transition from blue and goal to green and white, as former teammate Eden Williams also joined the SRU women’s soccer program in 2025, giving Paterline a familiar face as she adjusted to college life.
“I’m so close with Eden,” Paterline said. “If I were to go play college soccer with anybody from one of my club teams, it would have been her. I’m so glad I get to play with her for four years.”
Paterline quickly established herself as a key contributor as a freshman, starting all 17 games, averaging 70.6 minutes per game while recording 16 points on six goals and four assists. SRU finished the season 12-4-1 before falling to Millersville University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament quarterfinals.
With a successful freshman campaign behind her, Paterline entered her sophomore season looking to build on that foundation. Standing 5-foot-11, she focused on becoming more physical and using her size to create advantages on the field.
“I lifted a lot more, tried to bulk up, and whenever I played my summer league I tried to be more physical than I did last year,” Paterline said. “I have to use my size more often than I did last year. Playing out of position in my summer league definitely helps with my versatility.”
That work has paid dividends. Paterline has become a pivotal part of SRU’s offense, scoring five game-winning goals during the 2026 season and repeatedly delivering in moments when the team needs her most.
“Someone’s got to do it,” Paterline said. “You can’t be waiting for someone else to do it at that point. Be in the right place at the right moment and finish whatever is put in front of you.”
For Herlihy, Paterline’s ability to handle those situations reflects the composure and understanding she brings to the game.
“What you see is what you get, right? She’s just so calm,” Herlihy said. “Abby understands her strengths and the big perspective, which is a beautiful thing to have as a young player. She still has a lot of ways to go, but she’s so versatile, and that’s been such a key part of our success this year.”
That composure extends beyond Paterline’s performance on the field. Despite being a young player, she has already earned the respect of her coach for the maturity she brings to the team.
“Even when I spoke to her last year, I just said, ‘man, she’s like a senior,’” Herlihy said. “She’s wise beyond her years, and I’m very fortunate to have her.”
Paterline’s impact became especially evident after she scored game-winning goals against Seton Hill University and California University of Pennsylvania. The performances earned her the PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Week award for the first time in her career.
Although the recognition was a personal milestone, Paterline was quick to credit the teammates who helped make it possible, particularly during the emotionally charged matchup against California.
“It meant so much to me, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Paterline said. “We put so much work into beating [California]. It was a very emotional game. They played well, but I think all of us pushed to finally give me the opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net. I may have won the award, but it’s more of a team award.”
That perspective reflects how Paterline has approached her collegiate career from the beginning. Rather than arriving at SRU expecting a prominent role, she was simply grateful for the opportunity to compete at the school she had long hoped to attend.
“Some kids come in, they know they’re good, and they expect to play a lot. But I came in and I was just happy to get what I got,” Paterline said. “Nothing is guaranteed, trying to make the most of being on the field. Everything that I get is a blessing. I’m just enjoying every moment here.”
For Paterline, that appreciation goes beyond playing time, individual accomplishments or awards. It comes from knowing she is finally where she always wanted to be.
“What I think about the most is the fact that where I am now is where I’ve always wanted to be, so don’t take advantage of it, make the most of it,” Paterline said. “I’m here because I want to be here. I’m here because I’m having fun. I love my teammates. As long as I do my best on the field, that’s all I really can ask for.”
That outlook is rooted in the support Paterline has received throughout her soccer career, particularly from her father, whom she considers her biggest supporter.
“He’s been there throughout my whole career. He coached me when I was little,” Paterline said. “Before every game, he sends me a nice little wise text. He knows that sometimes you have good days and bad ones, but he doesn’t get on me when I’m down. I think his belief is my foundation. He knows that I’m not always perfect, and I don’t think I could wish for a better dad than him.”
As Paterline has found her place in the program, the women’s soccer team has continued to find success. Slippery Rock closed out the regular season against Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a 13-2-2 record, finishing atop the PSAC West.
For Herlihy, players like Paterline embody the mentality she wants to see throughout the program: competing at a high level while appreciating the experience and the people around them.
“We want our players to have joy in everything they do. It’s important to me that the girls really enjoy the experience,” Herlihy said. “When they truly have joy, like Abby does every day when she comes into training, it’s amazing what that breeds [in terms of] self-success.”
For Paterline, the success she has found at SRU is about more than what happens on the scoreboard. It is the result of an opportunity she once thought might not come, a team she is grateful to be part of and a place she never stopped wanting to call home.
