Coaches

Kevin Davies

Over the last 20 years, the Centenary University women's soccer team has become a force in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) and the region under the guidance of head coach Kevin Davies.


Since 2007, Centenary women's soccer has made a CSAC Tournament appearance every year, including bringing home the CSAC Championship in 2010 and 2018 and two additional appearances in the CSAC Championship game.


Davies and the Cyclones claimed the CSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2018. The Cyclones showed off a dominating defense during conference play as they did not allow a goal and earned the number one seed for the CSAC Tournament. The lock down defense continued in the CSAC Tournament as the Cyclones posted two more shutouts en route to the title. Centenary set the school record for single-season shutouts with 12.


Davies' guidance on the sidelines led to Chloe Christopher being named the CSAC Player of the Year while Sam Bombardiere took home the CSAC Defensive Player of the Year award. All told, 10 Cyclones took home All-CSAC accolades for their play during the 2018 campaign. Bombardiere, Christopher and Amanda Benoit were named All-ECAC as well.


The 2017 season proved to be another strong one for Davies the Cyclones. Centenary posted a 12-5 mark and advanced to the CSAC semifinals. In her final season, Emily Pizzuto was named the CSAC Defensive Player of the Year.


The 2016 Cyclones finished with 11 wins, including eight in conference play and an appearance in the CSAC Final. Centenary earned six All-CSAC selections, including Pizzuto being named CSAC Player of the Year and three first team selections. Pizzuto and Benoit were both named to All-ECAC First Team.


The 2015 Cyclones finished with eight wins, including seven in conference play and an appearance in the CSAC Quarterfinals. Centenary earned six All-CSAC selections, including Rookie of the Year Amanda Benoit and three first team selections.


The 2014 Cyclones finished with one of the best seasons in school history. In a season full of nail-biters, come-from-behind victories and stellar play, Centenary finished 2nd in the CSAC with a 9-2 conference record. Clinching a first-round bye, the Cyclones handily defeated Gwynedd-Mercy in the CSAC semifinals 4-0 to make another trip to the CSAC finals.


The Cyclones posted seven league victories in 2013, finishing in fourth place. Centenary advanced to the CSAC Tournament semifinals for the sixth time in seven years under Davies' guidance.


2012 was a season highlighted by the Centenary defense. The Cyclones recorded six shutouts while yielding one or fewer goals ten times as Coach Davies' team finished 7-9-2 overall and 6-4-2 in CSAC play.


The 2012 season saw the Cyclones score 16 goals in a two-game stretch as Centenary posted 9-0 and 7-0 wins over CSAC opponents Cedar Crest and Baptist Bible respectively.


While the Cyclones season ended in a 2-0 loss at Neumann University in the CSAC Tournament first round, nine members Coach Davies' squad earned postseason honors.


In 2011, the Centenary women found themselves in a familiar situation - the CSAC Tournament semifinals in a penalty kick shootout after regulation and two overtime periods could not provide a winner. The Cyclones fell this time to Neumann, yet the season was filled with accomplishments. Centenary posted a record of 11-5-3, 9-2-2 in CSAC play and advanced once again to the CSAC Tournament. The third seeded Cyclones defeated Baptist Bible College 6-0 in the first round game to advance to the semifinals vs. Neumann. Along the way, Coach Davies' team ran off an eight-game unbeaten streak (Sept. 21-Oct. 15) which included a five-straight shutouts.


Several Cyclones earned post season accolades in 2011, including Brittany Overland who was named the CSAC Player of the year to go with her First Team All-Conference placement. Along with Overland on the All-CSAC First Team were Tatiana Kingston and Kristyn Lehmann. Earning Second Team All-CSAC honors were Caitlin Veverka and Sara Smith. Alyssa Hackelberg received All-Conference Honorable Mention and Arille Hamilton was placed on the CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team.


The Cyclones’ 2010 campaign began with Davies winning his 100th career game as head coach of Centenary, thanks to a 9-0 defeat of Old Westbury. After a loss to Cabrini that left the team 6-7, CC closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak, including a 1-0 double-overtime win over Montclair State, the program’s first-ever victory against the Red Hawks.


Centenary tied the program-record in conference victories, going 8-2 to earn the third-seed in the CSAC. After defeating Neumann in double-OT, 2-1, CC tied second-seeded Marywood 2-2 and advanced to the championship game thanks to a 7-6 advantage in penalty kicks. The Lady Cyclones became the first Centenary program to host a conference championship, where it took on fifth-seed Immaculata. After tying the Mighty Macs 1-1, CC earned the CSAC Championship and its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth with a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks. In the NCAA Tournament, CC battled No. 16 Dickinson to a 1-1 tie and again went to penalty kicks, where this time the Cyclones fell, 4-2, ending their season.


Jazmine Farrell received First Team All-CSAC and Second Team NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Regional and five other Cyclones earned All-Conference awards, including Tatiana Kingston, who took home Second Team honors after setting a program record with 14 assists.


After winning nine games in 2008, the Lady Cyclones improved to 14 wins in 2009, with five losses and one tie. The team matched their 2008 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) mark of 7-2-1 to place third in the conference. Centenary advanced to the semifinals where it fell at Cabrini. Because of their successful regular season, the Lady Cyclones earned a berth to the ECAC South Tournament as the sixth-seed, falling at third-seeded Swarthmore, 3-0. Davies coached nine student-athletes to CSAC postseason awards, including First Team honors for juniors Kelley Michanczyk, Bianca Santulli and Farrell.


In 2008, Centenary finished 9-9-2, including a 7-2-1 conference mark. The Lady Cyclones defeated Immaculata 1-0 in the opening round of the CSAC Tournament, before falling to Gwynedd-Mercy, 1-0, in the semifinals. Five student-athletes received All-Conference honors, and Santulli was named to the NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-Mid-Atlantic-Region.


Davies guided Centenary to a 14-6-2 mark in 2007, including an 8-1-1 record in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC). The Lady Cyclones earned a berth into the conference tournament, reaching the championship game before falling to Eastern, 1-0. Davies’ squad then was chosen as the second seed in the ECAC Metro Region Tournament. Centenary shut out the College of Staten Island (5-0) and Rutgers-Camden (2-0) to reach the championship game, where it fell to Stevens, 5-1.


Six student-athletes were named to the PAC All-Conference teams, including First Team honors for Tanya DiDonna, who also earned NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region Third Team honors and was selected as Centenary College’s Woman of the Year by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.


Over his 18 seasons at Centenary (1999-present), Davies has amassed a career record of 165-149-22. In nine seasons in the CSAC, his team has a mark of 68-22-8. The Cyclones have made 14 postseason appearances during his time with the program. Since coming to Centenary, he has taken the women’s soccer program to the next level, continually filling the schedule with high quality opponents. The Cyclones have developed an exciting style of soccer, one that makes it enjoyable for fans to watch and very competitive for team members to play.


A native of Neath, South Wales, Davies began playing at the semi-professional level at the age of 16 for Briton Ferry Athletic in the Welsh National League. He then moved to the U.S. in 1994 to attend East Stroudsburg University and earned a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine and athletic training. While at ESU, he played his freshman year for the very successful men’s program at the tender age of 34 before becoming the assistant women’s coach. Davies has also coached with the New Jersey ODP (Olympic Development Program) He currently holds a USSF ’A’ coaching license, while supporting numerous youth soccer clubs around the Hackettstown area.


Besides his coaching duties at Centenary, he is one of the college’s athletic trainers. He resides in Hackettstown with his wife Stacy and their two children, Raegan and Shayne.