Central Recognized as Regional Staff of the Year
CCSU was named the 2019 North Regional Staff of the Year.
The Central Connecticut women's soccer coaching staff was named the 2019 NCAA Division I North Regional Staff of the Year as announced by the United Soccer Coaches on Friday. Head Coach Mick D'Arcy has coached the Blue Devils for 20 seasons with an overall record of 205-154-38 (.516). He is the winningest coach in school history leading the women's soccer team to 205 of the program's 247 wins.
Each of the 48 (24 men's and 24 women's) staffs receiving Regional Staff of the Year honors will be recognized at the College Coaches Awards Reception on Thursday Jan. 16, 2020 at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Baltimore.
In the nation, CCSU ranked in the top 30 in three categories. The Blue Devils ranked 16th in assists (46), 24th in total points (134) and 29th in points per game (6.09). D'Arcy, along with assistant coaches Jen Prozzo, Shawn Kelly, and Charlie Branch, led the Blue Devils to its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning its second straight NEC Title. Central defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 1-0 in the 2019 Northeast Conference Championship to earn its 10th conference title, the eighth under D'Arcy.
The Blue Devils received three NEC post season awards and had five players named First Team All-Conference and three players named to the All-Rookie Team. D'Arcy was named the 2019 NEC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career. For the sixth consecutive year for the women's soccer program, a Blue Devil received the NEC Defensive Player of the Year award (Jennifer Cafferky, 2014-17, Alterisio 2018-19).
Central upset the four-seeded Rutgers 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the second round for the second time in program history. Junior Erica Bardes scored the game-winner with 90 seconds left in the match. CCSU's season came to an end in a 1-0 double-overtime loss to West Virginia in the second round. Following the tournament, Central had three players earn All-Region Honors and sophomore Roma McLaughlin became the first CCSU women's soccer player to be named to the All-America Second Team.