The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team is set to host Dakota Wesleyan this weekend in the final home match of the regular season for the Defenders. Game time is set for noon on Saturday, Oct.26 at the Defenders Soccer Complex. 
• Dordt is in fifth place in the current GPAC standings with a 5-3-1 record (16pts), trailing both Briar Cliff and Morningside by one point and two points in back of second place Concordia. The Defenders are 9-4-1 overall.
• Dakota Wesleyan sits in ninth place in the current conference standings at 3-5-1 (10pts), three points behind College of Saint Mary for the eighth and final spot for the upcoming GPAC Tournament. They are 4-7-1 overall.

All-Time:

• Dordt is 12-5-1 all-time against Dakota Wesleyan, dating back to the first match played in 2006
• the Defenders have won seven straight against DWU
• the teams have played one time per season since 2006
• last year:
  • Dordt earned a 5-3 win in a match played on Sept. 27 in Mitchell, S.D.
  • the Defenders raced out to a 2-0 lead by halftime with a pair of Karinna Tel goals (22nd minute, 35th minute)
  • early second half goals by Joslyn Terpstra and Ellie Stuart put the Defenders up 4-0 with 35 minutes left
  • Dakota Wesleyan rallied, scoring three goals within a five minute span, to cut the Defenders lead to 4-3
  • Annika Enevoldsen scored twice and Esmeralda Guzman netted one
  • Terpstra scored during the 67th minute for an important insurance goal for Dordt
  • Elianna Van Hulzen made eight saves and earned the win for Dordt
  • Abigail Cosgrove and Isabella Gregg combined for five saves for DWU
• Dordt has shutout DWU 5x - last time in 2020 (2-0)
• Dordt has been shutout by DWU - 3x, last time in 2016 (2-0)
• most goals scored by Dordt: 8 in 2022
• most goals scored by DWU: 3 (5x)
• the teams played to a 1-1 tie in 2012

Around the GPAC: 

• GPAC Schedule for Saturday:
  • Dakota Wesleyan @ Dordt
  • Concordia @ Mount Marty
  • Jamestown @ Morningside (non-conference)
  • Briar Cliff @ Bellevue (non-conference)
  • Midland @ College of Saint Mary
  • Doane @ Hastings
  • Northwestern @ Waldorf
• GPAC Standings:
  • Hastings: 8-0-1, 25pts
  • Concordia: 6-3, 18pts
  • Briar Cliff: 5-3-2, 17pts
  • Morningside: 5-3-2, 17pts
  • Dordt: 5-3-1, 16pts
  • Doane: 4-2-3, 15pts
  • Midland: 4-2-3 15pts
  • College of Saint Mary: 4-4-1, 13pts
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 3-5-1, 10pts
  • Northwestern: 3-6 9pts
  • Mount Marty: 1-8, 3pts
  • Waldorf: 0-9

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.4; they began the season ranked 17th

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)
• Dakota Wesleyan was picked to finish eighth in the GPAC preseason coaches poll

Schedule Outlook:

• this is the final home match of the regular season for the Defenders, who close their conference slate with a road match on Wednesday, Oct. 30
• 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 Dakota Wesleyan:

• 2024 record: 3-5-1 (9th), 4-7-1 overall
  • last time out:
    • tied Briar Cliff 1-1 on Oct.23
    • trailed 1-0 at halftime
    • Hannah Petrucci tied the match with a goal during the 51st minute
    • DWU was outshot 14-9 (on-goal)
    • Abigail Colgrove made 13 saves
• Head Coach: John Hakari (3rd year)
  • served as the head coach at Southeast Community College for two years prior to coming to DWU in 2022
• 2023 Record:  
  • 5-6-1 (8th in GPAC), 7-9-1 overall
  • lost to Hastings 3-0 in the GPAC quarterfinal
• return nine starters, 16 players
  • return two all-conference players
  • return 19 of 20 goals scored
  • return starting goalkeeper
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 18 (1.6 / match - 8th in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 18 (1.6 / match - 8th in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Hannah Petrucci - 7 goals (T7th), 3 assists
  • Mikayla Adams - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Deandrea Johnson (all-conference in 2022) - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Lina Miranda - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Annika Enevoldsen (all-conference) - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Isabella Gregg (all-conference) - 29 saves, 1.6 goals against

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 9-4-1, 5-3-1 (5th in GPAC)
  • last time out: lost to Hastings 2-1 on Saturday, Oct.19
    • Hastings scored first during the 32nd minute for a 1-0 lead
    • Karinna Tel scored early in the second half (50th minute) to tie the score 1-1
    • the Broncos scored the game-winner with less a minute left
    • Jenna Wright made four saves
    • Dordt was out-shot 14-9, 6-5 on-goal
• 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: 51, 3.64 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • assists: 45 (1st in GPAC)
  • goals allowed: 16, 1.1 / match (5th in GPAC)
  • saves: 74 (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 (also on August 27, Oct.2)
  • Stats Leaders / GPAC rankings:
    • Karinna Tel - 24 goals (1st, 2nd in NAIA), 56pts (1st in GPAC, 2nd in NAIA), 8 assists (T3rd)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 8 goals (6th), 10 assists (T1st), 26pts (5th)
    • Ellie Stuart - 4 goals, 2 assists
    • Hayden Jennett - 2 goals, 4 assists 
    • Jenna Roberts - 2 goals, 4 assists
    • Jenna Wright - 1.21 GAA (7th), 72 saves (T5th)
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Doane (Oct.5)
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Briar Cliff (last time out)
  • Dordt has lost two straight, three of its last four
  • Tel became the program's career assist leader in the win vs Doane
  • Tel set the program record for goals in a season (24) vs Hastings