The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team is set to play its second match in four days as the Defenders host Concordia (Neb.) this weekend in a conference match. Start time on Saturday, September 21 is set for 2pm and will be played at the Defenders Soccer Complex.

All-Time:

• Saturday's match will be the 28th in the rivalry between Dordt and Concordia
• Dordt holds a slight lead in the all-time series, 12-11-4
• the Defenders have not defeated Concordia since the 2010 season (3-2 win)
• Dordt is 0-9-4 in its last 13 matches against the Bulldogs
• the teams have tied four times, including in three of the last five seasons
  • 2022, 2021, 2019 and 214
• last year:
  • 4-0 Defenders loss in Seward, Neb. on Sept. 20
    • Dordt was outshot 14-1 (on-goal)
    • Concordia scored two goals in each half
    • Kierstynn Garner totaled five points (2 goals and one assist)
    • Savannah Andrews and Hannah Kile netted the other two goals
    • Jenna Wright made 10 saves for the Defenders
• most goals scored by Dordt - 6 (2000)
• most goals given up by Dordt - 4 (3x)
• Dordt has shutout Concordia 5x
• Concordia has shutout Dordt 8x

Around the GPAC: 

• all 12 GPAC teams will play on Saturday on the second day of conference action 
  • Hastings @ Briar Cliff
  • College of Saint Mary @ Dakota Wesleyan
  • Midland @ Northwestern
  • Mount Marty @ Waldorf
  • Doane @ Morningside
• GPAC Standings:
  • College of Saint Mary: 1-0
  • Doane: 1-0
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 1-0
  • Northwestern: 1-0
  • Hastings: 1-0
  • Dordt: 0-0-1
  • Midland: 0-0-1
  • Briar Cliff: 0-1
  • Concordia: 0-1
  • Morningside: 0-1
  • Mount Marty: 0-1
  • Waldorf: 0-1

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)
• Concordia was picked to finish second in the GPAC poll

Schedule Outlook:

• Saturday's match is the second of 11 in conference play
• 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 Concordia:

• 2024 record: 3-3-1, 0-1 (GPAC)
  • last time out:
    • lost 4-3 to Northwestern
    • led 1-0 at the half
    • trailed 4-1 early in second half
    • Kierstyn Gardner led the Bulldogs with two goals
• Head Coach: Nick Smith (2nd year)
  • hired in March of 2023
  • previously served as the assistant coach with both women's and men's soccer programs for Lourdes University (Ohio) - 4 years
  • served as an associate head coach for the Toledo Villa F.C.
  • played for both Chaminade and Bridgeport
• 2023 Record:  
  • 8-1-3 (2nd in GPAC), 13-4-3 overall
  • upset by No.3 seed Midland in the GPAC semifinals
  • only GPAC loss in the regular season was to Morningside
• return 10 starters, 21 players from 2023
  • return seven all-conference players, including four who earned 1st team honors
  • 50/51 goals scored return
  • No.2 scorer returns
  • return No.2 goalkeeper
• only starter that did not return, Grace Soenksen, GPAC Defensive Player of the Year
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 12 (1.7 / match - 7th in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 14 (2.0 / match - T8th in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Kierstynn Gardner (2x all-conference) - 8 goals (T1st), 2 assists
    • led team with 19 goals last season
  • Savannah Andrews (all-conference) - 1 goal, 3 assists (T4th)
  • Hannah Haas - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Sadie Mares - 2 assists
  • Niah Kirchner (all-conference)
  • Angela Banks - 3-3-1 record, 24 saves (8th), 2.0 GAA

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 4-1-1, 0-0-1 GPAC
  • last time out: tied Midland
    • rematch of last year's GPAC Championship
    • scoreless at halftime
    • Joslyn Terpstra and Karinna Tel each scored a goal early in 2nd half to go up 2-0
    • Jenna Wright made six saves
    • Abby Worthy had one assist
• 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: 20, 3.3 / match (2nd in GPAC)
  • assists: 17
  • goals allowed: 6, 1 / match (T2nd in GPAC)
  • saves: 37 (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 - August 27
    • this is the fifth time Tel has earned the honor in her career
  • Stats Leaders / GPAC rankings:
    • Tel - 6 goals (3rd), 16pts (3rd), 4 assists (T2nd)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 4 goals (6th), 3 assists (T4th), 11pts (T5th)
    • Ellie Stuart - 3 goals 
    • Jenna Roberts - 3 assists (T4th)
    • Wright - 1.0 GAA (T3rd), 35 saves (2ndh)
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Nebraska Wesleyan (Sept.14)
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Hastings, Oct. 25  2023
  • Dordt had its three consecutive shutout streak snapped last time out vs Midland, a streak of 280 minutes (3 full matches + final 10 minutes vs MNU)
  • Dordt has scored at least one goal in 10 straight matches
  • Tel has scored a goal in eight of her last nine matches played
  • Tel has recorded a point in nine straight matches played in
  • Tel ranks in the career top 10 in:
    • goals - 44 (T5th)
    • assists - 29 (3rd)
    • points - 117 (4th)