Maria Zylstra (Oostburg, Wisconsin) has signed a letter of intent to attend Dordt University and join the Defender soccer program.  

Zylstra is a 5'8" forward and midfielder who has started three years for the Sheboygan Christian School soccer team heading into her final season in the spring. Zylstra has scored 65 career goals to go with 17 assists while earning all-conference honors three years. She helped lead her team to the regional championship the last two years as a sophomore and junior.  

"I visited Dordt for the first time last year and immediately knew that I would fit in very well there," said Zylstra. "After visiting campus a few more times and meeting students, coaches and professors, Dordt became one of the top choices on my college list. I chose  Dordt because I love how close of a community there is and how everything is centered around Christ. The students and staff were very welcoming and kind."

Zylstra has also played volleyball and basketball for Sheboygan Christian where she has earned all-conference accolades in each sport. She plans to pursue a Biology / HHP degree and enter the pre-physical therapy program. Zylstra is the daughter of Drew and Jenny.

Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. The Defender athletic program is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA).    

U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,500 students.