The Event: 

• Dordt University heads to Atchison, Kansas, for a mid-week, non-conference match against 25th-ranked Benedictine. Start time at Legacy Field on Wednesday, Sept. 4 is set for 7pm.

All-Time:

• Dordt is 0-1 all-time Benedictine, losing to the Ravens by a 3-0 score in Sioux Center in 2006

Around the GPAC: 

• Wednesday's matches:
  • Dakota Wesleyan @ Martin Luther
  • Hastings @ Kansas Wesleyan
  • Bellevue @ Concordia
• Tuesday's Result:
  • #22 MidAmerica Nazarene def. Briar Cliff, 4-2

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)
• the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) did not release a preseason poll
• 4 teams from the HAAC were recognized / ranked in the NAIA preseason poll
  • Central Methodist - 4
  • Benedictine - 18
  • MidAmerica Nazarene - RV
  • Missouri Valley - RV

Schedule Outlook:

• Wednesday's match will be the fourth in non-conference play for the Defenders
• this will be the second match against a team ranked in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll (also MidAmerica Nazarene)
• this is the third match against a team from the HAAC (William Penn, MidAmerica Nazarene)
• the Defenders will have one more non-conference match (vs Nebraska Wesleyan on Sept.14) prior to the start of conference play
• Dordt will open conference play on Sept.18 against defending GPAC Champion Midland in a rematch of last year's title match
• 2024 Schedule | 

Scouting Report on #25 Benedictine:

• 2024 record: 1-1-1
  • lost to (RV) Friends 2-1
  • def. Williams Baptist 7-0
  • tied (RV) St.Ambrose 1-1
    • scored early goal (3 minutes in) by Lizzy Gresch, assisted by Payton Vogelbacher
    • gave up tying goal during the 67th minute
    • goalkeeper Mackenzie Korzenecki made six saves
• Head Coach: Hunter Nail (1st year)
  • hired in March of 2024
  • previously served as an assistant for Texas A&M - Corpus Christi since 2016 (8 years)
• Conference: Heart of America Athletic (12 teams)
• 2023 Record:  
  • 6-2-3 (4th), 14-5-5 overall
  • ended the season ranked 24th in final NAIA coaches' poll
  • lost to Central Methodist in HAAC semi's
  • qualified for the NAIA National Tournament
  • won the Columbia, Mo. bracket with wins against LSU Alexandria and Columbia
  • lost to Tennessee Southern in the round of 16 1-1 (3-0 shootout)
• return four starters, 15 players from 2023
  • lost top two scorers, four all-conference players
  • return three all-conference players
  • 18 of the 53 goals scored last year return
  • 16 of 36 assists return
  • #1 goalie returns
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 9 (3 / match) 
  • goals against: 3 (1 / match) 
• Key Players (Honors / 2024 stats)
  • Brook Hatzmann - 2 goals
  • Madison Casey - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Caysi Brown (all-conference) - 1 goal
  • Christine Znidarsic (all-conference) - 1 goal
  • Kenan Ebel (all-conference) - 1-1-1 record, 9 saves, 1 GAA

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2024 record: 2-1
  • def. William Penn 5-1
  • lost to (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene 3-1
  • def. Avila 6-0
• 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: 12
  • assists: 10
  • goals allowed: 4
  • saves: 8
• Defender Notes:
  • the Defenders have qualified for the GPAC postseason tournament eight consecutive seasons, 20 of 24 overall
  • Dordt had a program record 19 NAIA Scholar Athletes last year
  • three Defenders, Sydney Hooyer, Karinna Tel and Abby Worthy, were named CSC Academic All-District
  • Karinna Tel earned CSC Academic All-American honors last year, the first player in program history to earn the honor
  • Tel was the GPAC Player of the Year and NAIA All-American in 2023
    • she was the second player in program history to earn the national honor
  • Tel was named the GPAC Player of the Week - August 27
    • this is the fifth time Tel has earned the honor in her career
  • Tel ranks in the career top 10 in:
    • goals - 44 (T5th)
    • assists - 27 (3rd)
    • points - 115 (4th)
  • last time Dordt recorded a shutout:
    • vs Hastings, Nov. 7 2023 - GPAC semifinals
  • last time Dordt was shutout:
    • vs Hastings, Oct. 25  2023
  • Dordt has scored at least one goal in seven straight matches
  • both Jenaya Cleveland and Maria Zylstra scored their first career point in the Defenders win vs Avila
  • the Defenders have out-shot their opponents 34-31 this season, including a 20-12 edge with shots on-goal
  • Tel has scored a goal in all three matches this season