Senior wing Samantha Manto led the Eastern women’s rugby team to a 102-0 shutout of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a season high seven tries.

As a senior, Manto brings more than just experience to the field each week, she also brings the leadership and dependability that every coach dreams of, especially women’s head rugby coach Frank Graziano.

“She’s taken on a nice role as a senior leader,” Graziano said. “She remembers so much of what it was like when she was a freshman, we had a great core of seniors that really helped her along.”

Manto, the Panthers’ leading scorer in the past four years, started off slow this season, scoring only three trys in their first two games. She got the ball rolling in this past weekend’s match up against UW-Stevens Point.

“It felt good to get back in my grove,” Manto said. “In the first game I scored only once, and just twice in the second game. If I only score once I’m usually pretty upset, so it was good to get back into my rhythm”

Graziano said the senior has been impressive in the past three seasons.

“She is very good at scoring, and as far as running the ball, she is second to none,” he said. “She’s been the leading scorer every year that she’s been with us. She’ll be nearly impossible to replace.”

Senior center Molly Clutter is also impressed by Manto’s speed.

“Her speed is a huge contribution,” Clutter said. “She has grown as a player of the years, and she’s become more comfortable running into a group of people instead of running around them. She has expanded her abilities, her speed is an asset, but also her strength.”

Manto’s leadership on and off the field has made her a reliable teammate.

“She is a leader on the field when we’re in a tough situation, everyone looks to Sam, and you know when she gets the ball in her hand she is going to score,” sophomore Tiffany Kennedy said.

Kennedy trains during the summers with Manto back in the Chicago suburbs.

“She is very determined. She gives 110 percent all the time,” Kennedy said.

Clutter said she loves having a teammate like Manto.

“She is always the one there to pick you up,” Manto said. “If someone is having a bad day, she is the one to yell and get everyone motivated when we’re running.”

The Panthers are going to need motivation in the next two weeks leading up to what might be their biggest challenge of the season – an NCAA sanctioned match at West Chester (Pa.).

The Panthers have the upcoming weekend off, giving them two straight weeks of practice to concentrate solely on the upcoming NCAA match-up.

Manto said the Panthers rugby team is eagerly awaiting the game.

According to teammates, Manto’s leadership and toughness are well known by her teammates, and should be respected by all opponents.

“Don’t be fooled by the blonde ponytail. She isn’t just some prissy blonde. She’s pretty tough,” Clutter said.

Richard Morse can be reached at 581-7942 or at