With Hannah Nielsen about to become the NCAA all-time assists leader, Hilary Bowen topping the nation in goals and Morgan Lathrop on pace to allow the fewest goals of her career, Northwestern has no shortage of senior stars.
What’s easy to forget, considering all the attention those three players get, is the depth of the class of ’09. Two years ago, neither Nielsen nor Bowen was even the highest-scoring member of her class.
That title belonged to Meredith Frank, who had netted 93 goals midway through her college career. She even had more assists than Nielsen did in their freshman year.
But Frank tore her Achilles’ tendon in fall practice before last season, which forced her to miss the first three games. Since coming back from the injury, her role has evolved.
“I’ve just tried to become more of a full-field player – not just in the attack, I’m focusing on defense, too,” Frank said.
The best way to recover would have been to sit out for an extended period of time, but Frank hurried back to score 29 goals in NU’s final 19 games. While Frank’s scoring rate dropped, she came through when she needed to, contributing a hat trick in the the Wildcats’ semifinal win over Syracuse.
There’s no time for rest this year either. NU will rely on Frank, a team captain, to contribute down the stretch as the Cats chases their fifth straight national title.
The tradeoff is that Frank has to deal with the effects of the injury every time she steps out on the field.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be 100 percent, if I’ll ever go back to not feeling it,” she said. “I have pain all the time. I don’t feel as strong in my legs, I don’t feel as fast. But that comes with the territory.”
Frank’s scoring production has continued to decrease this season. Through 10 games, she has found the back of the net just eight times.
But coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is not worried about her unsung offensive leader. Important games such as Friday’s against No. 4 Duke loom, and Frank should get more opportunities to score.
“We have so many weapons on the offense that scoring is definitely spread around,” Amonte Hiller said. “As the season goes on, you’ll see her scoring more and more goals.”
Plus, Frank tends to step up when the pressure is greatest, just like against Syracuse in last year’s playoffs.
She also had four scores against the Orange in the quarterfinals the previous year. And in five games against Duke and top conference rival Vanderbilt during her sophomore and junior seasons, Frank racked up 18 goals.
“Meredith always steps up in the big games,” Bowen said. “That’s when she comes in and surprises a lot of people.”
Her offensive output might be diminished, but Frank’s importance on the field is not. She contributes in ways that do not always show up in the box score.
“Meredith has consistently done all the little things that go unnoticed on our team,” Bowen said. “She’s the person who always makes a difference out on the field every day – getting ground balls, (and) getting draw controls.”
Frank has made a significant impact off the field as well, particularly in the development of one freshman – her sister.
Alexandra Frank is third on the team in draw controls and has five goals.
The elder Frank is trying to be a similar mentor. As a freshman, she was shown the ropes by two-time Tewaaraton Trophy winner Kristen Kjellman, her high school teammate. The younger Frank is being groomed to step in for her older sister when Meredith graduates, as the two possess comparable skill and approaches to the game.
“Their personalities are a little different, but the way they play is very similar,” Bowen said. “It’s exciting that not only do they get to play together, but when Meredith leaves, there’ll still be another Frank there. There’s a legacy.”
