By Devon Mongeluzzi
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/31/09

Downingtown West rising senior Morgan Obendorfer recently made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Ohio State University.

Obendorfer, who plans on studying Business, will play for head coach Sue Stimmel, a graduate of Boyertown High and Temple University. She will also join several Philly graduates who are playing for the Buckeyes, including rising senior Kelly Haggerty (nominee for Tewaaraton Award) and rising sophomores Gabby Capuzzi (Archbishop Carroll) and Kelsay Tabor (Downingtown West).

Obendorfer knew that Ohio State had the whole package when she visited the campus.

“I picked Ohio State because I was looking for a big school,” said Obendorfer, a midfielder. “I’m really excited to go to school where they will focus on me as both an athlete and a student.”

Last season, Obendorfer had 69 goals, 11 assists and 77 ground balls. She was a first-team All-Ches-Mont League selection for a Whippets team that fell to Bayard Rustin in the second round of the District 1 playoffs and finished 12-5-1.

Obendorfer was also honored this year by Phillylacrosse.com as one of the Competitive Edge Underclass Honor Roll choices. Recently, she was named All-Phillylacrosse.com third team.

Obendorfer took pride in Downingtown West’s improvement during the 2009 campaign. “As a team we started pretty slow because we didn’t have much varsity experience,” she reflected, “but we talked about what we could change and we really turned it around for a 10-game winning streak.”

She credits Downingtown coach Kelee O’Malley for her progress as a player.

“She always pushed me over the years to keep getting better and she’s helped me improve tremendously,” Obendorfer said.

Obendorfer recently excelled at the annual Vail Shootout in Colorado, helping the PA Express place second in the top scholastic girls’ division. Obendorfer scored 16 goals in six games during the tourney and earned all-tournament honors.

Tags: Downingtown West