The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team resumes its 2024 season with a mid-week, conference match-up against Waldorf. Start time on Wednesday, Sept. 25 is set for 5pm. This is the second straight home match for the Defenders, who are 1-0-1 in the GPAC, 5-1-1 overall; Waldorf is 0-2 in the GPAC, 0-7 overall.

All-Time:

• Wednesday's match will be the ninth all-time in the series between Waldorf and Dordt
• Dordt holds a 7-0-1 record against the Warriors and has won four straight
• the teams played their first match in 2009 in Forest City
• last year, Dordt earned a 6-1 home win over Waldorf in the final match of the regular season
  • Waldorf scored first with a goal from Gabby Bouman in the third minute
  • Dordt came back to score five goals and led 5-1 at the half
    • six different Dordt players scored a goal (Terpstra, Stuart, Tel, Foster, Evans, Ashlyn Marjama)
  • Tel led the Defenders with two assists
  • Lydia Zylstra made two saves
  • Dordt held a 10-3 shots on-goal edge
• the teams played to a 3-3 tie in 2012
• most goals scored by Dordt - 7 (2009)
• most goals given up by Dordt - 3 (2012)
• Dordt has shutout Waldorf 2x (2015, 17)

Around the GPAC: 

• a full slate of six matches will be played on Wednesday  
  • Morningside @ Briar Cliff
  • Mount Marty @ College of Saint Mary
  • Northwestern @ Dakota Wesleyan
  • Doane @ Midland
  • Hastings @ Concordia
• there is a 3-way tie for first place between Hastings, College of Saint Mary and Northwestern, all with 2-0 records
• GPAC Standings:
  • College of Saint Mary: 2-0
  • Hastings: 2-0
  • Northwestern: 2-0
  • Doane: 1-0-1
  • Dordt: 1-0-1
  • Dakota Wesleyan: 1-1
  • Mount Marty: 1-1
  • Midland: 0-1-1
  • Morningside: 0-1-1
  • Briar Cliff: 0-2
  • Concordia: 0-2
  • Waldorf: 0-2

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)
• Waldorf was picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams

Schedule Outlook:

• Wednesday's match is the third 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 Waldorf:

• 2024 record: 0-7, 0-2 (T10th) in the GPAC
  • last time out:
    • lost 3-0 to Mount Marty at home on Saturday, Sept. 21
    • trailed 1-0 by halftime
    • out-shot 10-1 by the Lancers (on-goal)
    • Hannah McNeave (5 saves, 70 minutes) and Isabella Bel (2 saves, 10 minutes) shared time in goal
  • Warriors have been shutout 2x this season, scored one goal in the other five matches
• Head Coach: Dr.Thomas Goodman (2nd year)
  • took over the program in March of 2023
  • previously served as the head coach at Finlandia University, a now shut-down NCAA D-II institution in Michigan
  • also has a previous coaching stint at Siena Heights
• 2023 Record:  
  • 1-9-1 (12th in GPAC), 2-11-3 overall
  • did not qualify for the postseason
• return 2 starters, 4 players from 2023
  • players who scored 6 of 13 goals from last year return
  • No.2 scorer returns (Olivia Cross)
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 5 (.67 / match - 12 in GPAC) 
  • goals against: 36 (5.1 / match -12th in GPAC) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Olivia Cross - 3 goals
  • Jamison Graham - 1 goal
  • Paige Spatorico - 1 goal
  • Kait Gaspari - 1 assist
  • Hannah McNeave - 0-4 record, 51 saves (1st), 5.4 GAA

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 5-1-1, 1-0-1 T4th GPAC
  • last time out: def. Concordia 3-2 on Saturday, Sept. 21
    • Karinna Tel scored the second of her two goal with four seconds left to beat Concordia for the first time since 2010
    • Joslyn Terpstra netted the Defenders first goal and assisted on the game-winner
    • Brooke Marjama recorded an assist
    • Dordt led 2-0 early in the second half before Concordia netted two goals within a 10-minute stretch to tie the match
    • Jenna Wright made four 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: 23, 3.3 / match (2nd in GPAC)
  • assists: 20 (2nd)
  • goals allowed: 8, 1.1 / match (4th in GPAC)
  • saves: 41 (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 - August 27
    • this is the fifth time Tel has earned the honor in her career
  • Stats Leaders / GPAC rankings:
    • Karinna Tel - 8 goals (3rd), 21pts (T1st), 5 assists (3rd)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 5 goals (T4th), 4 assists (T4th), 14pts (T4th)
    • Ellie Stuart - 3 goals 
    • Jenna Roberts - 2 goals, 3 assists (6th)
    • Wright - 1.17 GAA (4th), 39 saves (T3rd)
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Nebraska Wesleyan (Sept.14)
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Hastings, Oct. 25  2023
  • Dordt is unbeaten over its lasf five matches (4-0-1)
  • the Defenders are off to its best start since 2010 (6-1)
  • Dordt has scored at least one goal in 11 straight matches
  • Tel has scored a goal in nine of her last 10 matches played
  • Tel has recorded a point in 10 straight matches played in
  • Tel ranks in the career top 10 in:
    • goals - 46 (T3rd)
    • assists - 30 (3rd)
    • points - 122 (4th)