She was a member of the New Zealand U-17 FIFA World Cup team that traveled to Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, the U-20 team in 2011 and a member of the New Zealand national team since 2011. Patterson earned a spot on the NZ secondary schools team in soccer, cricket and track during her time at the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. In the 2010 tournament, Patterson played 255 minutes in all three of the team's matches, registering one assist. Her standout performance in the international tournament helped to earn her a spot on the national team that is competing for a berth in the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada.
With so much playing experience, Patterson brings a high level of confidence and understanding to the game despite being a freshman.
"She's a really skilled field player both with her feet and her head and in the air," captain Kim Rose '13 said. "Holly brings so much talent to our team."
Head coach Theresa Romagnolo is equally impressed by Patterson's potential and sees her in the center of the field due to influence over the playing field.
"She's a great play-maker and good passer," Romagnolo said.
Patterson first heard about Dartmouth a few years ago when one of her brother's best friends came here to row crew. Romagnolo also knew Ali Riley, Patterson's teammate on the New Zealand national team. While she was not able to see Patterson play in person for the first time during this preseason, she had a good sense of her from speaking with Riley as well as watching several of Patterson's international games online.
On the field, Patterson has made some adjustments to her playing, but is enjoying the challenge.
"Back home we play a more position-style play mirrored off the English and Premier League style, where we keep the ball for a lot of passes," she said. "But here you have to be big, strong and fast to play."
Romagnolo identified getting used to the speed and physical nature of Division I college soccer as the two most important things her freshmen should be working on.
"We're trying to make them a little bit tougher, Romagnolo said. "So that when they get into the game and go up against big, strong 22-year-old women who have been lifting weights, they can challenge them and compete for defensive balls."
Although the transition can be challenging, Rose said Patterson and the rest of freshmen seem to be adjusting well to the college game.
"They're a really talented group of girls," she said. "They just came in and took the bull by its horns, really wanting to make an impact this year."
Rose strongly encourages the freshmen to use all of the upperclassmen as a resource.
"I do feel like we have a really strong group of leaders on the team and they're such a great support system to the younger girls," Rose said. "I know my seniors reached out to me so much to help me adjust to college, help me figure out classes, social life and everything."
Patterson said she is looking forward to the beginning of the team's Ivy League schedule. The Big Green will travel to Providence, R.I., to face Brown University in their first regular season conference game on Sept. 29.
In the meantime, the team travels to Queens, N.Y. to face St. John's University on Friday before returning home to face the University of Maine Black Bears on Sunday.
