The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team concludes its regular season schedule with a road match against Northwestern on Wednesday night, Oct. 30. Start time on the NWC Soccer Complex in Orange City is set for 5pm.
• The Defenders sit in third place in the current GPAC standings with a 6-3-1 record and 19 points, trailing second place Concordia by two points, heading into Wednesday. The Bulldogs host Midland on Wednesday night.
• Northwestern is currently in ninth place in the GPAC with a 4-6 record and 12 points, three behind Midland and needing a win against Dordt to have a shot at postseason play.

All-Time:

• Dordt is 24-9-1 all-time against the Red Raiders, dating back to the first match played in 1996
• the Defenders are 4-0-1 in their last five, 5-4-1 in their last 10 against Northwestern
• the teams played to a 2-2 last season, the only tie in the rivalry
• last year:
  • Joslyn Terpstra put Dordt in front with a goal just 23 seconds into the match
  • Karinna Tel netted the Defenders second goal (27th minute) and gave Dordt a 2-0 lead at the half
  • Northwestern scored its first goal (Taylor Brennan) at the 57th minute and scored the game-tying goal during the 85th minute by Grace Timm
  • Dordt outshot Northwestern 14-9
  • Lydia Zylstra made seven saves
• Dordt has shutout NW 12x - last time in 2020 (1-0, 2 OT)
• Dordt has been shutout by NW 8x - last time in 2018 (1-0)
• most goals scored by Dordt: 8 in 2002
• most goals given up to NW: 4 in 2001
• the teams have played at least 1x per season since 1996
• they played twice in a season 6x (1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2015, 2017)

Around the GPAC: 

• GPAC Schedule for Wednesday, final day of the regular season:
  • Waldorf @ Briar Cliff
  • Mount Marty @ Doane
  • Dordt @ Northwestern
  • College of Saint Mary @ Hastings
  • Midland @ Concordia
  • Dakota Wesleyan @ Morningside
• GPAC Standings:
  • Hastings: 8-0-2, 26pts
  • Concordia: 7-3, 21pts
  • Dordt: 6-3-1, 19pts
  • Briar Cliff: 5-3-2, 17pts
  • Morningside: 5-3-2, 17pts
  • College of Saint Mary: 5-4-1, 16pts
  • Doane: 4-2-4, 16pts
  • Midland: 4-3-3, 15pts
  • Northwestern: 4-6, 12pts
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 3-6-1, 10pts
  • Mount Marty: 1-9, 3pts
  • Waldorf: 0-10

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 and have received votes in every poll thereafter; 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)
• Northwestern was picked to finish 10th of 12 teams in the preseason poll

Schedule Outlook:

• this is the final match of the regular season for the Defenders and for the rest of the GPAC teams
• eight teams qualify for the GPAC Tournament, beginning on Nov.2 with the quarterfinals
• top four teams will host matches on Saturday
• GPAC semifinals will be on Nov.7
• the GPAC Championship will be on Nov.12
• 2024 Schedule | 

Scouting Report on Northwestern:

• 2024 record: 4-6 (9th), 4-12-1 overall
  • last time out:
    • beat Waldorf 4-0 on the road (Oct.26)
    • led 2-0 at halftime, scoring goals during the 22nd and 44th minutes
    • added a pair of goals in the second half
    • four different Red Raiders scored a goal
    • Northwestern outshot Waldorf 16-0 (on-goal)
• Head Coach: Kelli Johnson (2nd year)
  • began in 2023
  • served as the head coach at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School (2018-23) and the Dakota Alliance Club (2019-23)
• 2023 Record:  
  • 3-8-1 (11th in GPAC), 6-10-1 overall
  • did not qualify for postseason
• return eight starters, 13 players
  • return one all-conference player
  • return 10 of 18 goals scored
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 33 (1.9 / match - T6th in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 59 (3.5 / match - 11th in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Avril Baccam - 12 goals (4th), 7 assists (T6th)
  • Kylie Baccam - 7 goals (T8th), 7 assists (T6th)
  • Grace Timm (all-conference) - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Taylor Brennan - 3 goals
  • Josi Swanson - 2 goals
  • Marissa Talamantes - 2 goals
  • Peyton Anderson - 3.22 goals against average, 80 saves (2nd), GPAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept.23)

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 10-4-1, 6-3-1 (3rd in GPAC)
  • last time out: defeated Dakota Wesleyan 7-0 on Oct.26
    • scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes and led 5-0 at halftime
    • added two second half goals, including one by Karinna Tel who became the program's career leader in goals and points
    • Tel scored three goals
    • Joslyn Terpstra netted one goal and totaled two assists
    • Hayden Jennett, Maria Zylstra, Jenna Roberts all netted one goal
    • Madison Bachar and Eliza Evans totaled one assist each
    • Lydia Zylstra earned the shutout and made two 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: 58, 3.87 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • assists: 49 (1st in GPAC)
  • goals allowed: 16, 1.1 / match (3rd in GPAC)
  • saves: 76 (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 - 27 goals (1st, 3rd in NAIA), 62pts (1st in GPAC, 4th in NAIA), 8 assists (T4th)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 9 goals (5th), 12 assists (1st), 30pts (5th)
    • Hayden Jennett - 3 goals, 4 assists 
    • Jenna Roberts - 3 goals, 4 assists
    • Ellie Stuart - 4 goals, 2 assists
    • Eliza Evans - 3 goals, 1 assist
    • Jenna Wright - 1.21 GAA (7th), 72 saves (T5th)
    • Lydia Zylstra - 2-0, 0.4 GAA, 4 saves
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Dakota Wesleyan (Oct.26)
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Briar Cliff (last time out)
  • Tel became the program's career leader in goals and points vs DWU
  • 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