Boys lacrosse: Frank sets Neuqua Valley scoring record while helping Wildcats win DVC title
Jonah Frank had wanted Neuqua Valley’s scoring record for some time. What better time to do it than during the DuPage Valley Conference championship game against Naperville North on Wednesday at Naperville Central?
Frank set the record by scoring four goals as the Wildcats (9-5) earned their 13th conference title with a 12-6 victory over the Huskies (3-8).
Frank’s record-breaker was a goal with 1:53 left in the first quarter. His 349 points bested the mark previously held by Cary George.
“After freshman year, I played pretty good,” said Frank, who will play at Denison in Granville, Ohio next season. “And after sophomore year, I played pretty good as well. So this has just been in the back of my mind ever since I started. So it's just amazing to be able to do it.”
Frank wrapped the first-half scoring with a goal with 1.7 seconds remaining, then scored to complete the hat trick in response to two Naperville North goals midway through the third quarter.
Even though the game had been long decided by the time 1:22 remained, Frank scored once more to round out the scoring.
The first quarter appeared to indicate an even contest as the Wildcats held a 3-2 lead at the end. The second quarter flipped that narrative as the Wildcats scored five goals and shut out the Huskies to extend their lead to 8-2 at halftime.
Jonathan Ostendorf had a hat trick before the first half ended, Grant Randolph completed one of his own at the halfway point of the fourth quarter, and Julian Silva also scored a goal.
Since 2017, only the 2020 season that was canceled because of COVID-19 has interrupted the Wildcats’ current conference title streak.
“We gotta get better every single day,” Wildcats coach Jordan Bobbo said. “As I always say, we take a step forward every single day, no steps backwards. We just gotta get better. We gotta play our best lacrosse in May and June, and I'm excited for these kids, and players win the game. That's all that matters.”
Millar Camp got both first-half goals for the Huskies, and Evan Marschitz found the back of the net twice in the third quarter. Everett Domerowski rounded out the scoring for the Naperville North starters.
“I'm super proud of my guys,” said Naperville North coach Kevin Benages. “They fight till their last breath. They never quit, and that's something that we can hang our hat on and be proud of — is just fighting for each other.”
Both teams also got contributions from their respective benches. Brady Elliott scored for Neuqua Valley, and Grant Ellison did so for Naperville North.
Earlier in the evening, Naperville Central defeated Waubonsie Valley, 11-8, to take third place in the conference on its home field.