The Dordt University men's soccer team earned a 2-0, shutout win against Briar Cliff in a conference match played this afternoon on Faber Field in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Defenders improve to 4-1-2 in the GPAC, 6-5-3 overall, and are tied with Hastings (Neb.) for first in the current GPAC standings (heading into Wednesday night). Briar Cliff lost its third consecutive match to fall to 3-4-1 in the GPAC, 4-10-2 overall; the Chargers are tied with Concordia for sixth place in the GPAC with three matches left.
How it Happened:
- the Defenders broke a scoreless tie with a goal by Trigve Elkins during the 27th minute
- Dordt pressed Chargers goalie Philip Haenel into an errant pass that Elkins received and blasted a shot past Haenel for his second goal of the season
- leading 1-0 into halftime, Dordt added its second goal during the 62nd minute when Phil Appelt scored from 25-yards out off an assist from Enzo Lira de Paula
- Defenders goalie Mitchell Dryden made several stops over the final 15-plus minutes to preserve the win and shutout
- Dryden stopped the Chargers best scoring chance, a penalty kick by Mustafa Bilge, at the 79th minute
By the Numbers:
- Dordt totaled six shots, three on-goal; Briar Cliff had 13 shots, five on-goal
- Appelt, Elkins and Marco Laenen all accounted for one shot on-goal
- Dryden stopped five Chargers' shots and earned his third shutout of the season
- six Defenders played the full 90 minutes; Dryden, Arnau Gonzalez, Levi Jaeger, Nolan Karel, Anton Forsch and Appelt
- Briar Cliff was led by Hugo Mariage with three shots, two on-goal
Defender Notes:
- Dordt's win against Briar Cliff was the first since 2014, ending a nine-match winless streak (0-8-1)
- Dryden pushed his career saves total to 217 and his career shutouts to 10
- Appelt scored his fifth goal of the season and is tied with Marco Laenen for the team lead
- de Paula recorded his first career point with his assist to Appelt
- the GPAC standings are extremely tight with seven teams within four points and three matches left to be played
Highlights:
