2008 Women's Rugby Roster
Biography
2008: Samantha finished her illustrious Panther career by winning her fourth consecutive Offensive Player of the Year Award, as well as the Strength and Conditioning Award and second straight Most Valuable Player Award... ran in a new personal high seven trys, and 35 points, in EIU’s 102-0 rout over UW-Stevens Point... playing in all ten games, she scored double-digit point totals in each of her last nine contests... also had at least one run-over-20-yards per game... in four years, the senior standout has completely rewritten the EIU record books, including season records for trys (44), points (220) and runs-over-20-yards (36)... while her top career honors include 133 trys, 665 points and 113 runs-over-20-yards, all statistical numbers that may never again be broken... she sports 65-plus listings in the Panther record books... accounted for 28% of all points scored by the Panthers in the last four seasons (665 of 2,389)....
2007: Samantha tabbed her third consecutive Co-Offensive Player of the Year Award and continued to show her prowess on the field by running in six trys in four games, including two games in a row to start the season... ran in a try in dramatic fashion in the historic West Chester game, to add to her program best 32 trys in a single season... played in every game over the course of the year....
2006: Despite a late-season injury, Samantha had another successful season, earning her a second Offensive Player of the Year Award along with freshman Crystal Jones... as well as the Most Valuable Player Award... played in eight games... had the second-highest number of trys all season, notching 28 total for 140 points... she led all Panthers with 21 runs-over-20-yards... defensively she had 20 total stops, including four assisted tackles... her best game was the season-opener versus Central Michigan, running in six trys to lead all scorers... she also recorded five trys in consecutive games versus Minnesota and Michigan State....
2005: To say that Samantha made an immediate impact her freshman season would be an understatement... she led the team in three offensive categories - trys (29), points (145) and runs over twenty yards (26)... all of which placed her at the top of the all-time list in those respective categories...scored 30 points versus North Carolina... led the team with 26 runs over twenty yards... also a member of the Panther track and field squad... Co-Freshman of the Year Award and Co-Offensive Player Award honoree....
HS: Earned six varsity letters and all-conference honors in track and field, swimming and basketball... all-state performer in track, qualifying for the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles and the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams....
PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was placing fourth in the 4x200 relay at the 2004 state meet... her coaches and parents have been the major influence on her athletic career, “they have always believed in me and pushed me to succeed”... enjoys running, writing, watching movies, listening to music, spending time at the beach... daughter of Samuel & Barbara Manto... earning a degree in finance, with a minor in economics... earned the 2008 Finance Faculty Award....
FUN FACTS: Samantha chose to come to EIU “to play rugby and track, plus the chance to make history”... is a Chicago White Sox fan, and not surprising lists Chicago as her favorite big city... currently riding in a 2003 Chevy Cavalier... her half maltese/ half bishon is named ‘Lilly’... beef and broccoli, as well as chicken casserole are her favorite foods, but she dislikes spinach... if she could switch places with anyone for a day it would be an Olympic athlete, “because you are the cream of the crop”... her special talent includes writing... her favorite buildings on campus are Lumpkin Hall and Lantz... since coming to EIU she has learned to “not sweat the small stuff”... if she could bring anything from her hometown to EIU it would be the Woodfield Mall... her advice for younger athletes is “enjoy it... don’t overthink it”... her favorite quote is “a day without laughter is a day wasted”... enjoyed taking Dave McGrady’s finance class... her personal goal after graduation is “to look back and have no regrets”....
COACH GRAZIANO SAYS: “Samantha’s final season was the best of her career... statistically topping nearly all her old records... her improvements are a tribute to her hard work and effort... not only in the off-season, but through summer conditioning and throughout the entire season... she will go down as Panther Rugby’s greatest scorer and her ability to run the ball and score from anywhere on the field was a defensive nightmare to every team we faced the past four seasons.”
CAREER HIGHS: TRYS: 7 vs. UW-Stevens Point (9/13/08)... ASST: 1 (3x), most recently vs. Eastern Kentucky (10/27/07)... TKLS: 7 vs. Oklahoma (10/29/05)... AT: 3 at Oregon (10/12/07)... PTS: 35 vs. UW-Stevens Point (9/13/08)... R>20: 7 vs. Ohio State (10/6/07) ... SAT: 1 (2x), most recently at Central Michigan (9/2/06)
