A flanker out of Glenbard North High School Stefanie Mahan, now in her final season as a Panther, has cemented herself in the Eastern women’s rugby record books.

After a high school career in which she won a state championship with the St. Charles Girls Rugby team, Mahan translated that success into her career with Eastern.

She is third on the all-time tackles list with 181, leaving her 167 behind one of her idols, Stephanie Militello.

“I feel honored,” Mahan said. “I looked up to Stephanie Militello, and she was my dream rugby player,” Mahan said. “To be ranked next to her name is just a huge compliment.”

Culminating with 88 tackles a year ago, Mahan’s career featured plenty of highlights. Her choice, however, was the historic game against Quinnipiac in 2011.

“Being able to play in the first NCAA Division-I competition is the reason I came to Eastern,” Mahan said. “I accomplished what I came here to do.”

The Eastern defender began her final season with an injury that caused her to miss the first two games of the 2012 season. Mahan was on the receiving end of a collision that left her on the grass during a scrimmage against rugby alumni. She remembers how she felt after it occurred.

“I saw the blood and I freaked out,” Mahan said. “I was upset that a game that didn’t count would have me miss so much time.”

Eastern lost its first two games of the 2012 season, with Mahan missing both of them.

Trainers slated her to return against Lindenwood, and in her first game back, she helped lead the Panthers to a 43-10 win.

“I was ecstatic to get back on the field,” Mahan said. “I went nine months without full contact, and that is a long time to go when that is your sport.”

Going forward Mahan has dreams of moving up higher on the all-time tackles list, although she already feels accomplished.

Her number one motivator has changed throughout the years, but she feels like she has made a name for herself.

“When I first came to Eastern I wanted to do it for myself and my family,” Mahan said. “Then, through last season, I wanted to change the world and be a part of the NCAA movement. This season I am just doing it for Lauren Doyle and trying to help her with the Olympic squad.”

Mahan and the rugby team take on Western Kentucky next weekend as she looks to further cement herself as one of the great Eastern defenders in program history.

Nicholas Ruffolo can be reached at 581-2812 or nfruffolo@eiu.edu.