The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team continues its 2024 season with a mid-week, conference match against Morningside. Start time at Elwood-Olsen Stadium in Sioux City, Iowa, is set for 5:30pm. 
• The Defenders are one of two unbeaten teams left in the GPAC, owning a 4-0-1 record, 8-1-1 overall. 
• Morningside is 1-2-2 in the GPAC, 2-3-4 overall. 

All-Time:

• Wednesday's match-up will be the 29th all-time in the rivalry between Dordt and Morningside
• the teams are even in the rivalry with both teams winning 14 matches
• Dordt is an even 5-5 in its last 10 against the Mustangs
• Dordt has won three straight in the rivalry, including two matches last season
  • 3-0 win during regular season (Oct.7)
    • Dordt led 2-0 at intermission after first half goals scored by Karinna Tel and Joslyn Terpstra
    • Terpstra netted the final goal during the 84th minute
    • Lydia Zylstra made eight saves and earned the win in goal
  • 3-2 win in GPAC quarterfinals (Nov.2)
    • Morningside scored first (2:57) on a goal by Ida Carlsson
    • Dordt answered with three goals in a span of 12 minutes for a 3-1 lead
      • Tel, Ellie Stuart and Hayden Jennett netted the goals
    • Morningside concluded the scoring with a Keyara Harmon goal during the 27th minute
    • the teams went scoreless in the second half
• most goals scored by Dordt - 7 (2022)
• most goals given up by Dordt - 6 (2015)
• Dordt has five shutouts vs Morningside
• the Defenders have been shutout nine times, most recently in 2021
• the teams played twice in a season 5x (2006, 08, 09, 21 and 23)

Around the GPAC: 

•  10 teams, five matches, are scheduled for Wednesday: 
  • Doane @ College of Saint Mary
  • Hastings @ Mount Marty
  • Briar Cliff @ Northwestern
  • Waldorf @ Dakota Wesleyan
  • Dordt @ Morningside
• GPAC Standings:
  • Hastings: 5-0, 15pts
  • Dordt: 4-0-1, 13pts
  • College of Saint Mary: 4-1, 12pts
  • Doane: 2-1-2, 8pts
  • Midland: 2-1-2 8pts
  • Northwestern: 2-3. 6pts
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 2-3, 6pts
  • Concordia: 2-3, 6pts
  • Morningside: 1-2-2, 5pts
  • Briar Cliff: 1-3-1, 4pt
  • Mount Marty: 1-4, 3pts
  • Waldorf: 0-5

In the Rankings:

• Hastings is the lone GPAC team holding a spot (#25) in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll
• Midland received votes in the first poll of the 2024 season but has since dropped out

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)
• Morningside was picked fourth, along with Midland, in the preseason poll

Schedule Outlook:

• this will be the sixth match in conference play for the Defenders, marking the halfway point of the conferenc slate
• 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 Morningside:

• 2024 record: 2-3-4 overall, 1-2-2 (9th in the GPAC)
  • last time out:
    • defeated College of Saint Mary 1-0 on Oct. 5
    • ended five match winless streak for the Mustangs
    • was the first GPAC loss for CSM
    • Melissa Tsotiris scored the game-winner during the 23rd minute
    • Kyla Severson made five saves
• Head Coach: Tom Maxon (25th year)
  • only coach in program history
  • started the program in 2000
  • 206-181-25 career record
  • led Mustangs to three national tournaments, most recent in 2015
• 2023 Record:  
  • 7-3-2 (T4th with Dordt), 11-5-2 overall
  • lost to the Defenders 3-2 in GPAC Quarterfinals
• return six starters, 18 players
  • return two all-conference players
  • return 23 of the 38 goals scored, including their leading scorer
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 6 (.67 / match - 11th in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 8 (.9 / match - 3rd in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Tuva Hammarlund (returning starter) - 3 goals, 1 assist
  • Keyera Harmon (returning starter and leading scorer from 2023) - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Alex McCauley - 2 assists
  • Sami Murray - 1 goal
  • Melissa Tsatiries (all-conference) - 1 goal
  • Lily Sidel (all-conference) 
  • Kyla Severaon - 2-0-4 record, 0.61 GAA (1st), 28 saves

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 8-1-1, 4-0-1 (2nd in GPAC)
  • won four straight, unbeaten in last eight matches (7-0-1)
  • best start since the 2009 season, third best start in program history
    • last time out: def. Doane 3-0 (Oct.5)
      • handed the Tigers their first GPAC loss
      • Maria Zylstra, Karinna Tel and Eliza Evans scored goals
• 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: 44, 4.4 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • assists: 40 (1st in GPAC)
  • goals allowed: 8, .80 / match (2nd in GPAC)
  • saves: 46 (4th)
• 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 2x - August 27, Oct.2
  • Stats Leaders / GPAC rankings:
    • Karinna Tel - 17 goals (1st), 42pts (1st in GPAC, T2nd in NAIA), 8 assists (T2nd)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 8 goals (4th), 8 assists (T2nd), 24pts (3rd)
    • Ellie Stuart - 4 goals, 2 assists
    • Jenna Roberts - 2 goals, 4 assists (T6th)
    • Jenna Wright - .83 GAA (3rd), 44 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 14 straight matches
  • Dordt has shutout its last three opponents (Waldorf, Mount Marty, Doane)
  • Tel became the career leader in assists last time out