Patterson spent four seasons at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year and National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American selection.

[1][2][3] During his college years he also played with Carolina Dynamo of the USL Premier Development League, scoring 15 goals in his 14 games in 2006.

New York Red Bulls selected Patterson with its first round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft in January 2007.

[5] In March 2008, he scored on his debut for Charleston Battery against Toronto FC in the Carolina Challenge Cup[6] In the fall of 2008, he joined the Chicago Storm of the Xtreme Soccer League, and played for them during the outdoor offseason, before re-joining Charleston prior to the 2009 USL1 season.

[7] He made his debut for the Soca Warriors in a March 2008 friendly match against El Salvador.