Franklin Regional’s Abby Paterline named to U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Team

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 5:12 PM

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Every state has an Olympic Development Program for soccer, but not every player makes it as far as Abby Paterline has.

The Franklin Regional senior midfielder continued her breakout year at the club level as she was selected to play for the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Team, which will play in Spain in the spring.

Thousands of entrants start out, but only 18 make the national roster.

It starts at the regional level. Paterline, an Edinboro commit, played in an East Region tournament in Delaware with about 40 others and advanced to a three-day regional training camp in Connecticut.

She was the West team captain and had two impressive header goals off corner kicks.

The qualifying process continued as she joined 17 others from three regions for a workout Jan. 25-26 in Orlando, Fla.

The trip to Florida sent Paterline’s confidence sky high. There, she played in front of national scouts.

“There are about 1,500 to 2,000 girls who started the process, which ended up to be 18 for this team I was selected to be on,” Paterline said. “I have been in the ODP program for the past five years because it is a good way to play against other top-level girls.

“Very few girls get the opportunity to be on this national team, so I am grateful I was selected,” she said.

Last year, Freeport’s Camryn Woods made the national team and played in Puerto Rico.

Paterline views her latest accomplishment as a finale of sorts.

“This opportunity to play in Spain means so much to me as my ODP career is coming to an end,” Paterline said. “If you would have told me last year that this would be happening, I wouldn’t have believed you. I am so grateful for this opportunity. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my continuous support from my ODP coaches, club coaches, high school coaches, strength and conditioning coaches and my parents. Each person that has helped me along the way believed in me more than I believed in myself, so I owe each of them all of my thanks.”

Paterline had eight goals and six assists and earned All-WPIAL honors last fall season.

“I know that I can play at a high level when given the chance,” she said, “so I hope this will give me the opportunity to showcase what I can do.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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