Game Time:

• The Dordt University women's soccer team will host a pair of matches this week, beginning with a match-up against Briar Cliff, under the lights of the Defenders Soccer Complex, on Wednesday night, Oct. 15 
• kickoff will be at 7:15pm
• the Defenders are in a 4-way tie for second place in the GPAC with 13pts (4-2-1); Briar Cliff is in 10th place in the GPAC with 4pts (1-4-1)
• 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:

• Dordt is 20-12-2 all-time against Briar Cliff
• the Defenders are 1-8-1 in its last 10 matches against the Chargers
• last year, Dordt lost 2-0 in a match played in Sioux City
  • the Defenders were outshot 26-9, 12-6 on-goal
  • Briar Cliff scored goals in the 4th and 85th minute
• Dordt has not defeated Briar Cliff since 2017 (0-8-1)
• the teams played to a 1-1 tie in 2023
• the rivalry began in 1996
• Dordt has been shutout 4x; the Defenders have shutout Briar Clif 12x

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders play an 18-match schedule this season, seven non-conference and 11 within GPAC play
• the Defenders have just four GPAC matches left in the regular season
• Dordt will play its final non-conference match on Oct.22 against Dakota State before closing out the regular season at Concordia (Oct.25) and home against Northwestern (Oct.29)
• GPAC postseason tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.4
• 2025 Schedule | 

GPAC Standings (as of October 15):

• Concordia - 4-1-2, 14pts
• Doane - 4-1-1, 13pts
• Dordt - 4-2-1, 13pts
• Hastings - 4-1-1, 13pts
• Morningside - 4-1-1, 13pts
• Mount Marty - 3-1-2, 11pts
• College of Saint Mary - 3-3, 9pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 2-1-3, 9pts
• Northwestern - 2-3-2, 8pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 1-1-3, 6pts
• Briar Cliff - 1-4-1, 4pts
• Midland - 0-7, 0pts
• Waldorf - 0-6, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Wednesday:

• (RV) Hastings @ College of Saint Mary
• Briar Cliff @ Dordt
• Doane @ Mount Marty
• Concordia @ Midland
• Dakota Wesleyan @ Waldorf
• Morningside @ Northwestern

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 4-2-1 (T2nd in GPAC), 5-5-2 overall
  • the Defenders lost both matches last week, falling to Morningside 3-1 and to (RV) Hastings 3-0
    • both matches were on the road
  • Dordt is in a 4-way tie for second place in the GPAC with Doane, Hastings and Morningside with four conference matches left
  • Dordt has played four teams that are currently ranked in the NAIA coaches poll
    • Missouri Valley, Eastern Oregon, College of Idaho and Hastings
• Head Coach: Payton Chitwood (1st year)
  • hired on March 27, 2025, Chitwood is set to make his Defenders coaching debut this weekend
  • Chitwood is the sixth different individual to lead the Defenders women's program since it began in 1996
  • Chitwood previously served as the head of the Warner University women's program (Fla.) from 2017-24 (8 years)
    • overall record at Warner: 51-81-14
    • named SUN Conference Coach of the Year (2018)
  • Chitwood also served as an assistant coach for Trinity International University from 2011-17
• By the Numbers, 2025:
  • goals scored: 28 / 2.33 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots: 204 (1st)
    • on-goal: 124 (2nd)
  • goals allowed: 20 / 1.67 per match (8th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 172
    • on-goal allowed: 95
• in 2024:
  • 7-3-1 (3rd in GPAC), 12-5-1 overall
    • lost to Concordia 1-0 in GPAC semifinals
• return 13 players who started at least one match in 2024
• statistical leaders:
  • Karinna Tel - 17 goals (1st in GPAC; 4th in NAIA)
  • Karinna Tel - 74 shots (2nd in GPAC), 49 on-goal (1st in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 3 goals, 5 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 3 goals, 4 assists (T7th in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 2 goals, 6 assists (T3rd in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (5-5-2) - 72 saves (2nd in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra - 1,060 minutes
  • Abby Worthy - 961 minutes
• returning all-conference players:
  • Karinna Tel - GPAC Player of the Year (2x); 2x NAIA All-American, career points, goals and assists leader
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 1st team; single season record holder with 16 assists
  • Abby Worthy - 2nd team
  • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention
  • Hayden Jennett - Honorable Mention

Scouting Report - Briar Cliff Chargers

• 2025 Record: 1-4-1 (10th in GPAC), 3-9-1 overall
  • lost to College of Saint Mary (Neb.) 2-1 on Saturday, Oct.11
    • trailed the Flames 1-0 at the half
    • BCU tied the match with a goal by Ellen Lofsjogard during the 66th minute
    • CSM netted the game-winner at the 87th minute
    • BCU was outshot 11-4, 7-1 on-goal
  • Briar Cliff defeated Midland on Oct.4 for its only conference win
• Head Coach: Ernesto Hidalgo (1st year)
  • previously served as the assistant coach for University of California, Riverside
  • also has coaching stops at San Diego Christian College and Fullerton
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (12 teams)
  • picked 6th in preseason coaches poll
• 2024 record: 6-3-2 (T4th with Morningside), 7-9-3 overall
  • lost to Morningside 2-0 in GPAC quarterfinals
• return three starters, 12 players
  • return 10 of 43 goals scored, 7 of 36 assists
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 15 (1.2 per match - 10th in GPAC)
  • goals allowed - 28 (2.2 per match - 9th in GPAC)
• key returners:
  • Tamzin Hilton
  • Sadie Jones
  • Sydney Robbins
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • Sierra Brooks - 4
    • Tamzin Hilton - 4
  • Assists:
    • Ondine Manceau - 4 (7th in GPAC)
  • Saves:
    • Caitlin Anderholm (0-2-1) - 55 saves, 2.07 GAA