Game Time:

• The Dordt University men's soccer returns home to play Briar Cliff for a mid-week match-up on Wednesday night, Oct.15
• kickoff at the Defenders Soccer Complex is set for 5pm
• Dordt is currently tied with Doane for 7th place in the GPAC standings with 5pts (1-3-2 - GPAC; 4-5-4 overall)
• Briar Cliff is currently ninth in the league standings with a 1-3-1 record, 4-6-2 overall
• Watch the match live via the Dordt Media Network at the link below:
  • Watch |
• Live Stats are also available for all of the Defenders matches, both home and away
  • Live Stats | 

All-Time:

• the Defenders are 20-22-2 all-time against Briar Cliff
• since 2002, the year Briar Cliff joined the GPAC, Dordt is 10-14-2 against the Chargers
• Dordt is 1-8-1 in its last 10 matches against the Chargers
• last year, Dordt earned a 2-0 win in Sioux City
  • Dordt was outshot 16-6, 5-3 on-goal
  • the Defenders got goals from Trigve Elkins (27th minute) and Phil Appelt (62nd minute)
  • this was the first win against BCU since 2014
• Dordt has shutout BCU eight times
• the Defenders have been shutout 13x by BCU

Schedule Outlook:

• The Defenders play a 17-match schedule in 2025, featuring a 10-match conference slate and seven non-conference matches
• Dordt has four matches left in the regular season
• Dordt's final regular season match will be at home against Northwestern on Oct.29
• GPAC Tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.1
• 2025 Schedule | 

GPAC Standings (as of October 15):

• Northwestern - 6-0, 18pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 4-1-1, 13pts
• Midland - 4-1-1, 13pts
• Concordia - 4-2, 12pts
• Hastings - 2-2-2, 8pts
• Morningside - 2-2-1, 7pts
• Doane - 1-3-2, 5pts
• Dordt - 1-3-2, 5pts
• Briar Cliff - 1-3-1, 4pts
• Mount Marty - 0-3-2, 2pts
• Waldorf - 0-5, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Wednesday, Oct.15

• Morningside @ Northwestern
• Concordia @ Midland
• Dakota Wesleyan @ Waldorf
• Briar Cliff @ Dordt
• Doane @ Mount Marty

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 1-3-2 (T7th w/ Doane), 4-5-4 overall
  • Dordt lost to Hastings 2-1 last time out (Oct.11)
    • the Broncos scored a pair of goals in the first half
    • Dordt cut the lead in half with a goal by Enzo Lira de Paula at the 69th minute
    • Dordt outshot the Broncos 17-13; the Broncos had the edge in shots on-goal 8-3
    • Shad Jaeger (3-4-3) made six saves
  • the Defenders have given up two goals or less in all but one match
• Head Coach: Eric Bourdo (3rd year)
  • spent four years as ass't at Dordt before being named head coach (2019 - 2022)
  • guided the Defenders to a 9-7-4 record his first season in 2023, tied for the most wins in a season since 2014
  • Defenders have qualified for the GPAC tournament in each of the previous two seasons under Bourdo
    • lost in the GPAC semi's in 2023
• by the Numbers, 2025:
  • goals scored: 20 / 1.6 per match (7th in GPAC)
    • total shots: 176 (3rd in GPAC)
    • on-goal: 80 (4th)
  • goals allowed: 16 / 1.23 per match (4th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 117
    • on-goal allowed: 58
• in 2024:
  • 4-3-3 (6th place in GPAC), 6-8-4 overall
    • lost to Northwestern in GPAC Quarterfinals
• return nine starters, 18 players from 2024
• the Defenders have allowed two goals or fewer in all but one match this season 
• statistical leaders:
  • Marco Laenen, Trigve Elkins, Anton Forsch - 3 goals
  • Enzo Lira de Paula and Anton Forsch - 2 assists
  • Marco Laenen - 11 shots on-goal
  • 19 Defenders have scored at least one point this season
  • Shad Jaeger - 32 saves (9th in GPAC) (3-4-3 record)
  • minutes played - Anton Forsch: 1,100 
    •     Levi Jaeger: 1,092
• returning all-conference players:
  • Marco Laenen (2023)
  • Nolan Karel (2024)
  • Tyson Reitsma (2x, 2022 and 2024)
  • Levi Jaeger (2024)

Scouting Report - Briar Cliff Chargers

• 2025 Record: 1-3-1 (9th in GPAC), 4-6-2 overall
  • last time out:
    • tied Maharishi 1-1 in a non-conference match on Oct.11
    • led 1-0 after a goal by Alejandro Ilnan (34th minute)
    • outshot Maharishi 22-3, 8-2 on-goal
  • last GPAC match was a 3-2 loss at home against Northwestern
  • lone win in the GPAC was a 2-0 victory against Morningside
• Head Coach: Luis de la Fuente (1st year)
  • joined staff as a graduate assistant in 2023
  • played for Tusculum University (Tenn.)
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (11 teams)
  • picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll
• in 2024: 4-5-1 (7th in GPAC), 5-11-3 overall
  • lost to Concordia in the GPAC Quarterfinals in PK's 5-4
• return two starters, eight players
• return 6 of 32 goals scored, 5 of 26 assists
• by the numbers:
  • 17 goals, 1.6 / match (8th)
  • 20 goals allowed, 1.8 / match (8th)
• key returners:
  • Finlay Skilling (all-conference)
  • Alex Johnson (2x all-conference)
  • Axel Bjerke
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • Alejandro Illan - 8 (3rd in GPAC)
    • Pablo Gonzalez - 2
  • Points: 
    • Alejandro Illan - 19
    • Pablo Gonzalez - 5
  • Assists:
    • Alejandro Illan, Gabriel Hernandez - 3
  • Saves:
    • Xabier Ilundain (3-3) 1.75gaa, 47 saves (4th in GPAC)