Tar Heels Pattillo, Zenk Fuel 18-9 North Win in All-America Senior Game

BALTIMORE — As the North squad sprinted onto Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field ahead of Saturday evening’s All-America Senior Game, the 22 incoming college freshmen didn’t have to look far beyond the red pyrotechnics to find an extra incentive.

“We got this insane speech before [the game], and our coaches told us to play for the little girl that we remember ourselves being when we were younger,” incoming North Carolina goalkeeper Alexandra Zenk said.

Zenk, who recorded five first-quarter saves, said she kept thinking back to her days watching the All-America Games as a youth player. Now, she stood front and center as the North’s starting goalie while sharing the field with five future Tar Heel teammates and a bevy of soon-to-be ACC rivals.

“I was thinking about saves that I thought were crazy when I was younger,” Zenk said. “Now, they’re [plays] I expect from myself. I’m absolutely thrilled of who I’ve become and where I’m going.”

With 45 of the nation’s premier high school seniors forming a stacked All-America class that stretched across 14 states, the two teams appeared evenly matched in the game’s opening minutes and capable of matching one another stride for stride.

Although the South jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, the North team launched a dominant 11-0 run that paved the way for an 18-9 victory. Attacker Addison Pattillo (UNC) led a balanced offensive onslaught with four goals and an assist.

“Everyone knew what we had to do out there, and we all brought the energy,” Pattillo said. “We worked together, and everything was just clicking for us.”

For her efforts, the Wilton, Conn., native garnered MVP honors. The North’s 18 goals were the highest All-America Game output since it matched that total in 2014.

Not to be outdone, the group surrendered the fewest goals against since 2021, when the North toppled the South 16-8. Zenk said the quality competition elevated her team’s collective effort.

“From the other side of the cage all the way down to my side of the field, it was absolutely incredible,” Zenk said. “I was just so excited to finally get to play with and against these girls.”

Attacker Jenna Soto (Northwestern) said she and many of her North teammates were in the stands for last year’s 14-10 South victory. Soto notched three points — including a quickfire goal-and-assist combination with UNC’s Tess Calabria.

Watching their region come up short gave them an extra “chip on their shoulder,” Soto said.

“We knew that South won last year, and we knew that with the amount of talent we have on our team, we shouldn’t lose,” Soto said. “We shouldn’t back down to any challenge. Knowing we were [facing] those top players, we went out there with a lot of integrity, power and intensity.”

While 10 North players tallied goals during the first half, the team’s defense held no regard for the game’s all-star status, holding the South scoreless for more than 27 minutes. Despite firing eight second-period shots, the South attack found no answers for Zenk’s clinic between the pipes and the watertight North defense.

“In practice [Friday], we focused on playing together and not leaving each other on an island,” incoming Virginia defender Sophia Conti said. “Especially at these All-Star games, you don’t know each other that well, but we played like we knew each other forever. That’s why we won and why we played so well.”

The South made inroads from a first-half running clock, nabbing the third quarter’s first three goals, but the result was all but settled long before the scoreboard struck triple zeroes.

In the coming months, the 45 standouts will join the collegiate ranks, where they’ll look to hit the ground running in fall ball. North and South competitors will join forces, while longtime teammates will pave their own paths in different settings.

But, for those like attacker Giulia Colarusso — a Boston College signee who tallied two goals and two assists Saturday — the honor of being selected for the event will live long in their memories.

“It just means the absolute world; I cried to my parents when I got the phone call that I was selected,” Colarusso said. “I’ve watched this game for so many years and just to be a part of it to finish off my high school career was something I can’t even put into words.”