The Event: 

• The Dordt University men's soccer team continues its season this weekend with a pair of non-conference matches to be played in Illinois. On Thursday, the Defenders will pair up against Trinity Christian College, a match that will take place in Palos Heights, Illinois. Following an off day on Friday, Dordt will have a match against Governors State at Dowling Park in University Park, Ill.

All-Time:

• Thursday's match will be the 12th all-time in the rivalry between Dordt and Trinity Christian
• the Defenders lead the series 7-4 and have won four straight
• Dordt earned a 2-0 win against Trinity Christian in 2022
• the rivalry began in 1981
• Dordt has never played Governors State

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)

Schedule Outlook:

• the two contests this weekend are in a stretch of six, non-conference matches for the Defenders prior to its GPAC opener against Midland (Sept.18)
• the Defenders will host the Pizza Ranch Classic next weekend where they will play Grand View (Friday) and Jamestown (Saturday)
• GPAC play begins on Wednesday, September 18 against Midland in Fremont, Neb.
• 2024 Schedule | 

Scouting Report on Trinity Christian College:

• 2024 record: 0-0
• Head Coach: Gabriel Sitibaldi (2nd year)
  • 2023 CCAC Coach of the Year
    • led Trolls to a 6-win improvement
    • hosted its first postseason match since 2008
  • is the 8th head coach in program history 
  • served as the head coach at Williams Baptist for six years prior to his appointment at TCC
• Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic (12 teams)
• 2023 Record: 9-8-4 overall, 6-4-1 (4th in CCAC)
  • lost to Olivet Nazarene in conference semi's
• return six starters, 23 players from 2023
  • return one all-conference player
  • 26 of 41 goals scored last year return
  • 11 of 18 assists return
  • #1 goalie returns
• by the numbers (based on 2023 stats)
  • goals scored: 41 (1.95 / match)
  • goals against: 27 (1.29 / match)
• Key Players Returning (2023 stats)
  • Ivan Perez - 6 goals, 5 assists
  • Ismael Aguero - 5 goals, 1 assist
  • David Hernandez - 5 goals
  • Tiago Alfieri - 2nd team all-conference
  • Giorgos Christodoulou - 9-6-4 record, 653 saves, 1.33 GAA

Scouting Report on Governors State:

• 2024 record: 0-0
  • they open the season vs Midland on Thursday, August 22
• Head Coach: Matt Eggert (6th year)
  • started the program in 2019
  • led Jaguars to a pair of NAIA Tournaments
  • previously served as an assistant at Purdue NW
• Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic (12 teams)
• 2023 Record:  8-10-1, 8-2-1 (2nd)
  • qualified for the NAIA National Tournament, Opening Round
  • lost to Briar Cliff 1-0
• return five starters, 12 players from 2023
  • lost leading scorer who was the CCAC Freshman of the Year
  • return two all-conference players
  • 20 of 41 goals scored last year return
  • 18 of 34 assists return
  • top goalkeeper is back
• by the numbers (based on 2023 stats)
  • goals scored: 41 (1.9 / match)
  • goals against: 32 (1.6 / match)
• Key Players Returning (2023 stats)
  • John Gonzlez - 1st team all-conference, 7 goals, 4 assists
  • Andrea Croce - 3 goals, 2 assists
  • Javier Losa - 1 goal, 5 assists
  • Raul Garcia - 1 goal, 4 assists
  • Peter Sorich - 1st team all-conference
  • Marcol Salom Chandre - 9-6-3 record, 76 saves, 1.63 GAA

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach: Eric Bourdo (2nd year)
  • spent four years as ass't at Dordt prior to being named head coach
• 2024 record: 0-0-1
  • earned a 2-2 draw in season opening match against William Woods
  • Phil Appelt and Jacob Narkis (PK) scored goals for the Defenders
  • Mitchell Dryden made eight saves
• 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