Known as a defensive maestro nationally, Kenis' units helped the Terps boast 10 Big Ten titles since joining the conference in 2015, only ever losing five regular season games,
Kenis has coached eight Tewaaraton winners, seven IWLCA National Defenders of the Year, four IWLCA National Goaltenders of the Year, nine conference Defenders of the Year and five conference goaltenders of the Year. Maryland has had the Big Ten Defender of the Year in every season under Kenis.
In 2022, the Terps defense was among the best in the nation, holding opponents to only 7.81 goals per game, the second-best mark in the nation. Kenis coached the IWLCA National Goaltender of the Year Emily Sterling who stood second in the nation with a 53.1-percent save percentage and 7.87 goals against average. Abby Bosco became the latest Big Ten Defender of the Year to play for Kenis as she secured the most groundballs ever by a Big Ten player with 63. Maryland held seven top-15 opponents to under 10 goals including No. 2 Northwestern in the Big Ten Regular Season Championship and No. 13 Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament Championship.
Maryland is coming off the 2019 NCAA Championship, and Kenis' defense featured the first goalkeeper to ever win the Tewaaraton Award and the IWLCA National Player of the Year Megan Taylor and the IWLCA National Defender of the Year Julia Braig. The 2019 defensive unit was one of Kenis' best ever, limiting opponents to just over eight goals per game and holding 16 of 22 opponents to under 10 goals. Taylor led all power five goalies with a .551 save percentage and piled up the postseason honors, including being named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after holding Boston College to just 10 goals in the title game.
Braig and Taylor led a young Maryland defense in 2018 as Maryland won another pair of Big Ten Championships and made their 10th-straight Final Four. Taylor was named the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year for the third season in a row and Braig earned Big Ten Defender of the Year honors for the first time. The two stars and sophomore Lizzie Colson, who was new on defense entering her sophomore year, all were named All-Americans.
Kenis' defense helped Maryland propel to an undefeated National Championship season in 2017. Led by Tewaaraton finalist and National Defender of the Year Nadine Hadnagy and National Goaltender of the Year Megan Taylor, the Maryland defense held 13 opponents to under 10 goals including Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game, when the Terrapins held the crown in College Park. Taylor was third in the country with a .531 save percentage, tallying 213 saves as a sophomore.
Led by National Defender of the Year and Tewaaraton finalist Alice Mercer, Kenis led the best defense in the Big Ten and a top ten unit nationally in 2016, holding opponents to just 7.09 goals per game. Tewaaraton winner Taylor Cummings led the Big Ten in caused turnovers with 52 while freshman Megan Taylor had the best save percentage (.478) and goals against average (6.78) in the Big Ten, winning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year honors as a freshman. The Terps won their first Big Ten Tournament Championship holding Rutgers and Northwestern each to nine goals and made their eighth-straight final four, holding their opponents to just 6.67 goals per game en route.
Megan Douty was named the National Defender of the Year for the second year in a row in 2015 as Kenis and the Terps stood on top, winning the program's 13th national championship. The defense was fifth in the country, holding opponents to only 7.27 goals per game on way to a 22-1 record. In the NCAA Tournament, Maryland held every opponent under 10 goals including both Syracuse and North Carolina to eight in the Final Four. Douty and junior Alice Mercer were both named All-Americans as they led the Terrapin defense.
Iliana Sanza was named IWLCA National Defender of the Year in 2012 and newcomer Alice Mercer was an all-region pick in 2013 as only a rookie.
Kenis had Maryland's tenacious defense running on all cylinders again in 2011. Senior defender Katie Gallagher, an IWLCA Second Team All-American, led a defensive unit which surrendered a mere 6.78 goals per game. The Terps repeated as ACC champions for the third-straight season and also made their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Final Four.
Kenis has played an integral role in recruiting some of the best talent in the nation and across the globe to Maryland. Her efforts fully came to fruition in 2010 when the Terps hoisted the national championship trophy for the first time since 2001. Reese was named IWLCA National Coach of the Year as well as being tabbed the ACC's top coach for the second consecutive season. Kenis also helped mentor Karissa Taylor, who was named IWLCA National Defender of the Year, as the Terps racked up a sturdy sub-7 goals against average.
In 2008 and 2009, the Terps went a stellar 39-4, landing in the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2008 and the Final Four in 2009. Maryland captured the ACC Championship in 2009.
As an assistant at Denver, the Pioneers went 16-3 in 2007 and ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 8.86 goals per game. The Pioneers also ranked 17th in caused turnovers per game. In 2006, Kenis' Pioneer defense ranked 13th in the country allowing 8.65 goals per outing as they went 15-5 under Reese who was head coach there for three years.
Kenis aided the Terrapins to a 27-12 record and a pair of NCAA appearances in her first stint as an assistant coach in 2004 and 2005 under Cindy Timchal. In 2004, Kenis guided one of the top defenses in the nation as the Terps allowed just 7.90 goals per game which was tops in the ACC and fifth in the nation. In 2005, the Maryland defense again held opponents under 10 goals per game as it allowed 9.21 per outing.
As a student-athlete, Kenis helped the Virginia Cavaliers to a pair of NCAA finals appearances and also led them to two berths in the ACC finals. The four-year letterwinner was a two-time all-conference honoree while earning NCAA and ACC All-Tournament accolades.
Kenis ranks third all-time in Virginia history with 107 caused turnovers and started every game in her final two seasons in Charlottesville. She was a two-time member of the Virginia All-State team and ranked second on the team in ground balls and caused turnovers in her junior and senior seasons.
Updated June 6, 2023
