The Event: 

• The Dordt University men's soccer team will begin its 2024 season this weekend when they host William Woods (Mo.) on Saturday, August 17. Kickoff on the Defenders Soccer Complex is set for 1pm.

All-Time:

• Saturday's match is just the second all-time between Dordt and William Woods
• the Owls earned a 1-0 win in the Defenders season opener last season played in Fulton, Mo.
• Miles Andrews scored the lone goal early in the second half (53rd minute) off a cross from Breck McGrail
• William Woods held a 14-3 shots advantage
• Brandon Hansen stopped five shots in the full 90 minutes
• Matthew Dworak picked up the win for the Owls and made one save

GPAC Preseason Poll:

• the Defenders were picked to finish sixth of 11 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) poll released last week
• Dordt totaled 52 points, trailing Briar Cliff (1st), Concordia (2nd), Morningside (3rd), Northwestern (4th) and Hastings (5th)

Around the GPAC:

• today's matches:
  • Graceland @ Northwestern
  • Hastings @ Bellevue

Schedule Outlook:

• Saturday's match is the first of six consecutive non-conference match-ups the Defenders will play in preparation for the GPAC slate
• the Defenders will be on the road next week when they play both Trinity Christian and Governors State in Illinois
• Dordt will then host the Pizza Ranch Classic on August 30-31 (vs Grand View and Jamestown) followed by another home match on Sept. 14 against Central
• GPAC play begins on Wednesday, September 18 against Midland in Fremont, Neb.
• 2024 Schedule | 

Scouting Report on William Woods:

• 2024 record: 1-0
  • Owls defeated Briar Cliff, the GPAC preseason favorite, 4-2 on Thursday, August 15 in Sioux City
  • both teams totaled 14 shots; WWU had 10 on-frame compared to seven for Briar Cliff
• Head Coach: Tommy Nienhaus (4th year)
  • overall record: 18-28-7
  • previously the head coach at University of Jamestown (8 years - 75-57-13)
  • is the sixth head coach in program history (began as a program in 1997)
• Conference: American Midwest (9 teams)
• 2023 Record:  10-6-4 overall, 2-2-3 (4th place) in the AMC
  • doubled their win total from the 2022 season
  • first 10-plus win season since 2018
  • lost to #1 seed Williams Baptist in the AMC semi's
• Owls return nine starters, 15 players from 2023
  • five all-conference players return
  • 28 of the 45 goals scored last year return
  • 20 of the 31 assists return
  • #1 goalie returns
• By the Numbers (based on 2023 stats)
  • goals scored: 45 (2nd in AMC), 2.25 / match
  • goals against: 26 (4th in AMC), 1.3 / match
• Key Players Returning (2023 stats)
  • Omar Murillo - 1st team all-conference (2 goals)
  • Luis Pinto - 1st team all-conference (1 goal)
  • Josh Seyer - HM all-conference, Newcomer of the Year (1 goal)
  • Miles Andrews - HM all-conference, 8 goals (4th in AMC), 5 assists (4th in AMC), 21 points (3rd in AMC)
    • 3x AMC Player of the Week
  • Breck McGrail - HM all-conference (5 goals (8th in AMC), 6 assists (3rd in AMC), 16 points (7th in AMC)
  • Matt Dworak - 1.08 gaa, 22 saves, 5-2-2 record
• of note:
  • Owls have one AMC Championship and qualified for one NAIA National Tournament (2017)

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach Eric Bourdo - Preseason Interview
• Head Coach: Eric Bourdo (2nd year)
  • spent four years as ass't at Dordt prior to being named head coach
• 2023 record: 9-7-4 overall, 5-4-2 (6th place) in GPAC
  • lost to Northwestern, 4-3 (2 OT), in GPAC semi's
• return seven starters, 17 players
  • two all-conference players return
  • 27 of 56 goals scored, 20 of 43 assists, return
  • #1 goalie returns
• 2023, by the numbers:
  • goals scored: 56 (2nd in GPAC), 2.8 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • 43 assists (1st)
  • goals allowed: 21 (T2nd), 1.04 (3rd)
• Key Returners:
  • Marco Laenen - HM all-conference, 9 goals (T6th), 5 assists
  • Mitchell Dryden - HM all-conference, 75 saves, 1.07 gaa, 6-5-2 record, three shutuouts
    • 160 career saves, 10-11-6 record
    • 2x GPAC Player of the Week in 2023, 1x GPAC Player of the Week in 2022
  • Jacob Narkis - 8 goals (T9th), 5 assists
  • Dylan McIntosh - 2 goals, 2 assists
  • Anton Forsch - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Arnau Gonzalez - 1 goal, 1 assist (all-conference in 2022)
  • Ryan Reyes - played in 19 matches
  • Nolan Karel - started all 20 matches
  • Phil Appelt - transfer from MidAmerica Christian, played two years at Dordt prior, all-conference at Dordt