The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team heads to Sioux City, Iowa, for a mid-week match against Briar Cliff. Game time on Wednesday, Oct. 16 is set for 1pm on Faber Field. 
• The Defenders are second in the current GPAC standings with a 5-1-1 record, 9-2-1 overall.
• Briar Cliff has won three straight and is in fifth place in the current GPAC standings with a 3-3-1 record, 3-8-2 overall. 

All-Time:

• Wednesday's match will be the 34th in the rivalry between Dordt and Briar Cliff
• Dordt holds a 20-11-2 lead in the all-time series, dating back to the first match played in 1996
• last year, the teams played to a 1-1 tie in match played on Sept.13 in Sioux City
  • the Chargers scored first, during the 36th minute, on a goal from Gemma White
  • Dordt netted the tying goal early in the second half (54th minute) by Abby Worthy
  • Briar Cliff held a 7-4 shots advantage (3-2 on-goal)
• most goals scored by Dordt - 7 (2x - 1999 and 2000)
• most goals given up by Dordt - 5 (2x - 2020 and 2022)
• Dordt has shut out Briar Cliff 10x, most recently in 2017 (2-0)
• the Defenders have been shutout three times, most recent in 2020 (5-0)
• the teams have played at least 1x per season since 1996
• the team played twice in a season 5x (1999, 2004, 2008, 2019, 2021)
• two matches ended in a tie (2023 and 2005)

Around the GPAC: 

• five matches are scheduled to take place on Wednesday
  • Dordt @ Briar Cliff
  • Waldorf @ Culver-Stockton (non-conference)
  • Concordia @ Doane
  • Northwestern @ Morningside
  • Midland @ Hastings
• another match involving a GPAC team will be played on Thursday:
  • Jamestown @ College of Saint Mary
• GPAC Standings:
  • Hastings: 7-0, 21pts
  • Dordt: 5-1-1, 16pts
  • College of Saint Mary: 4-2-1, 13pts
  • Doane: 3-1-3, 12pts
  • Briar Cliff: 3-3-1, 10pts
  • Concordia: 3-3, 9pts
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 3-4, 9pts
  • Northwestern: 3-4 9pts
  • Midland: 2-2-2 8pts
  • Morningside: 2-3-2, 8pts
  • Mount Marty: 1-6, 3pts
  • Waldorf: 0-7

In the Rankings:

• Hastings is the only team from the GPAC recognized in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll
• the Broncos received votes in the poll announced Oct.2

Preseason Polls:

• the Defenders were picked to finish third of 12 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) poll released last week
• Dordt totaled 96 points, trailing Hastings (1st) and Concordia (2nd)
• Briar Cliff was picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll put out by the coaches

Schedule Outlook:

• four matches remain in the conference regular season for the Defenders
• eight teams qualify for the GPAC Tournament, beginning on Nov.2 with the quarterfinals
• the GPAC Championship will be on Nov.12
• 2024 Schedule | 

Scouting Report on Briar Cliff:

• 2024 record: 3-3-1 (5th), 3-8-2 overall (won three straight)
  • last time out:
    • def. Midland 2-1 in Fremont, Neb. on October 12
    • Briar Cliff scored both goals over the final 12 minutes, both by Eyrun Vala Hardardottir (78th and 86th minute)
    • the Chargers totaled 14 shots, 6 on-frame; Midland had seven shots, three on-net
    • Jaime Rowlands made two saves
• Head Coach: Gabrielle Parks (2nd year)
  • hired in February of 2023
  • spent last three years as head coach for Walla Walls Community College (Wash.)
  • also served as an assistant at Northern State
  • 3-year starter for the University of Jamestown
• 2023 Record:  
  • 4-4-4 (9th in GPAC), 5-5-5 overall
  • did not qualify for the postseason
• return eight starters, 15 players
  • return three all-conference players
  • return 7 of 17 goals scored last season
  • return starting goalkeeper
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 22 (1.75 / match - 7th in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 28 (2.23 / match - 9th in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Emily Moran (all-conference) - 6 goals (T7th), 2 assists
  • Menu Polachini - 3 goals, 2 assists
  • Eyron vala Hardardot - 3 goals, 4 assists
  • Tia Lisy (2x all-conference) - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Jaime Rowlands (all-conference) - 55 saves (5th), 1.99 GAA 

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 9-2-1, 5-1-1 (2nd in GPAC)
  • best start since the 2009 season, third best start in program history
    • last time out: def. College of Saint Mary 5-2 on Oct. 12
      • trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes
      • led 3-2 after three Karinna Tel goals during the final 20 minutes
      • Tel added two more goals in the second half
      • Joslyn Terpstra (2), Maria Zylstra and Hayden Jennett recorded assists
      • Jenna Wright made six saves
• Head Coach: Alex Durbin (5th year)
• • 38-29-7 overall record
  • qualified for the postseason tournament each year
• 2023 record: 12-6-2 overall, 7-3-2 GPAC (T4th)
  • lost to Midland 4-3 (2 OT) in GPAC championship
  • Dordt led GPAC in goals (58) and goals / game (2.9)
• return six starters, 19 players
  • four all-conference players return
  • 10 of 11 top goal scorers return
  • #1 and #2 goalkeepers return
  • return 57 of the 58 goals scored
• 2024, by the numbers:
  • goals scored: 50, 4.17 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • assists: 44 (1st in GPAC)
  • goals allowed: 12, 1 / match (T2nd in GPAC)
  • saves: 60 (6th)
• Defender Notes:
  • the Defenders have qualified for the GPAC postseason tournament eight consecutive seasons, 20 of 24 overall
  • Jenna Wright was named both the NAIA and GPAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept.10)
    • Wright is the first Defenders player to earn the national honor since Elianna Van Hulzen in 2020
    • Wright's 21 saves is the most by a Dordt player for sure since 2006
  • Karinna Tel was named the GPAC Player of the Week 3x, including this week- August 27, Oct.2
  • Stats Leaders / GPAC rankings:
    • Karinna Tel - 23 goals (1st, 1st in NAIA), 54pts (1st in GPAC, 1st in NAIA), 8 assists (3rd)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 8 goals (6th), 10 assists (1st), 26pts (4th)
    • Ellie Stuart - 4 goals, 2 assists
    • Hayden Jennett - 2 goals, 4 assists 
    • Jenna Roberts - 2 goals, 4 assists
    • Jenna Wright - 1.05 GAA (5th), 58 saves (4th)
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Doane (Oct.5)
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Hastings, Oct. 25  2023
  • Dordt has scored at least one goal in 16 straight matches
  • Tel became the program's career assist leader in the win vs Doane
  • Tel is tied for the program record for goals in a season (23)