Game Time...The Dordt University men's soccer team is set to play in its home opener this weekend when they host the 2022 Pizza Ranch Classic at the Defenders Soccer Complex. The Classic is co-hosted by Northwestern, who play the same teams on opposite night in Orange City. Dordt will play Trinity Christian (Ill.) under the lights on Friday evening, Sept. 2, for its home opener beginning at 6pm and will then return to the field the next day, Saturday, Sept. 3, for a late-afternoon contest against Ottawa (Kan.) at 4pm.Â
- Schedule:Â
- Friday, Sept. 2
- Dordt vs. Trinity Christian (6pm)
- Northwestern vs. Ottawa (5pm)
- Saturday, Sept. 3
- Dordt vs. Ottawa (4pm)
- Northwestern vs.Trinity Christian (5pm)
Follow both Defender matches online, courtesy of the
Dordt Media Network |Â
Follow the live stats at this link:Â Â
Live Stats |Â
All-Time...Dordt is 6-4 all-time against Trinity Christian, last playing the Trolls in 2018 in a 2-1 Defenders win. Dordt has won three straight matches in the rivalry, coming away with 2-1 wins in 2015 and 2012 as well. Saturday's match will be the fourth all-time in the rivalry against Ottawa with the Defenders owning a 1-1-1 record. The teams will now have played in four of the last five years; they played to a 1-1 tie in 2021.
Last Time Out...Dordt lost to Metro State, a NCAA D-II foe from Denver, Colorado, 2-0 in a match played August 20 in Denver. The Defenders gave up both goals in the first half but played even with the Roadrunners in the second frame. Dordt totaled four shots on-goal compared to six by MSU.
Mitchell Dryden made four saves for the Defenders.
Scouting Reports...
Trinity Christian: 0-1-1
- lost to Cornerstone (1-0) and tied Taylor (1-1)
- Head Coach: Eric Salley (7th year)
- All-Time Record: 26-54-6
- best season: 2016 (his 1st year) 8-9-1, best record at TCC since 2011
- formerly assistant coach at Spring Arbor for three years
- coached for Lansing United and played at Taylor University
- members of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (13 teams)
- last Year:4-8-1 (9th), 6-11-1 overall
- lost four of last five matches, did not qualify for postseason
- Olivet Nazarene was CCAC champion - regular and postseason
- return 10 players with starting experience (started at least 1/2 of games played)
- by the numbers (based on 2021Â stats):
- 1.5 goals / match (28 scored on season)
- 2.8 goals given up / match (51 given up)
- top players returning:
- Jorge Alencar - 4 goals
- Manasse Mbuyi - 2 goals, 3 assists
- Alec Miller - started 12 of 13 games
- Giorgos Christodoulou - 17 starts, 83 saves, 2.82 goals against average
Ottawa : 0-1-1
- lost to #8 MidAmerica Nazarene 6-2; tied Panhandle State (1-1)
- Head Coach: James Cottage (1st year)
- All-Time Record: 0-0
- previously head coach at Bethel (Kan.) for four years
- spent time as assistant coach at both Oklahoma and Cal State - Monterey Bay
- members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (13 teams)
- picked 5th in KCAC preseason coaches poll
- #5Â Oklahoma Wesleyan was the preseason favorite
- 2021: 4-8 (T9th), 5-11-2
- did not qualify for postseason
- lost five straight to close season
- return eight starters, 11Â players
- return one all-conference player and top two scores (20 goals scored combined)
- By the Numbers (based on last year):
- 1.7Â goals / match (32 scored on season)
- 2.4 goals given up / match (44 given up)
- Top Players: (2021 stats)
- Bence Molnar- all-conference; led team with 12 goals, 5 assists
- Jonathan Rawayo - second in with 8 goals scored
- Julian Colchado - 2 goals, 2 assists in 10 games
- Nick Wolfe - played in 14 games, 9 starts
- Gage Powers - 70 saves, 2.4 goals against average
Defender News and Notes...
- Friday's match against Trinity Christian will be the first played against an NAIA school
- Dordt has been outscored 3-1 this season
- Brandon Hansen (5 saves) and Mitchell Dryden (4 saves) combined to give up 1.5 goals per game
- Dordt will host Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday, Sept.7 at 6pm in another non-conference match-up
