COLUMBUS, Ohio - Seven student-athletes have signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play women's lacrosse for Ohio State starting in the 2010-11 campaign, head coach Sue Stimmel announced this week. Included in the group are four Marylanders and one each from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.

Kelly Becker is lone Ohioan, hailing from Dublin Jerome. She will join Katie Chase, Cara Facchina, Heather Gravinese, Tayler Kuzma, Morgan Obendorfer and Kate Sullivan as the newest Buckeyes.

"I am very excited with the recruits that we signed from the Class of 2010," Stimmel said. "We have seven very talented student-athletes who have been successful at the high school and club levels. I feel they will adjust quickly to the college game, adding the depth and talent we need to be competitive in the tough American Lacrosse Conference."

CLASS OF 2010 COMMITMENTS
KELLY BECKER
Attacker, Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Jerome High School
Becker has played three years of lacrosse at nearby Dublin Jerome, earning all-league honors each year, including first-team accolades twice. The team MVP as a junior, the attacker was also named the Dispatch athlete of the week last season. Becker is a member of the honor roll and has received her academic letter.

KATIE CHASE
Attacker, Woodbine, Md., Glenelg High School
Chase is a two-sport standout in lacrosse and soccer at Glenelg, the alma mater of current Buckeye sophomore Alayna Markwordt. There, she led the soccer team to three state championships in the last four years and the lacrosse squad to the 2008 Maryland title. A first team all-county selection by three area newspapers, the senior attacker finished her junior season with 38 goals and 15 assists and was first in the country in ground balls and second in draw controls. The Hero's club program member, along with fellow signee Cara Facchina, is also on the honor roll and a Minds in Motion award recipient.

CARA FACCHINA
Midfielder, Glenwood, Md., Mount de Sales Academy
A three-sport athlete in basketball, tennis and lacrosse, Facchina will come to Ohio State from Mount de Sales Academy outside of Baltimore, Md. As the starting point guard, MVP and three-year captain of the basketball team, Facchina was an all-county and all-metro selection as a junior last season. She also has been the No. 1 singles player all four years and captain/MVP of the tennis team for the last two. A Hero's club teammate of Katie Chase, Facchina earned all-tournament honors during the 2008 Club National Championship. 

HEATHER GRAVINESE
Defender, Mullica Hill, N.J., Clearview Regional High School
A three-year letterwinner in lacrosse and basketball, Gravinese earned second team all-conference honors and the most improved player award for her Clearview Regional lacrosse squad. A member of the South Jersey Devils club team, the senior defender earned all-tournament honors during the 2008 Club National Championship. Gravinese also is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Renaissance and Key Clubs.

TAYLER KUZMA
Defender, Bel Air, Md., C. Milton Wright High School
Kuzma is a member of the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams at C. Milton Wright, earning All-Harford County and MVP honors in both soccer and lacrosse. As a defender, she was named the Unsung Hero award each of the last three seasons on the lacrosse field and the same award on the soccer pitch as a junior. A member of the Skywalkers club program, Kuzma also is a four-year honor roll recipient for her work in the classroom.

MORGAN OBENDORFER
Midfielder, Glenmoore, Pa., Downingtown West High School
Obendorfer will join current Buckeye sophomore Kelsay Tabor as Downingtown West graduates in the program. As a junior last season, she tallied 69 goals, 11 assists and 77 ground balls, earning a First Team All-Ches-Mont League selection, as well as honor roll and third team accolades by PhillyLacrosse.com. Over the summer, Obendorfer and her club team PA Express took second place in the top scholastic girls' division at the Vail Shootout where she scored 16 goals in six games and earned all-tournament honors. Also a member of the soccer and indoor track teams, OBendorfer has earned honor roll accolades throughout her high school career.

KATE SULLIVAN
Midfielder, Bethesda, Md., Georgetown Visitation
Sullivan will come to Ohio State after a four-year career at Georgetown Visitation. The rising senior midfielder has also played with the Capital Lacrosse Blue Team.