Game Time:

• The Dordt University women's soccer team will host Doane (Neb.) this weekend for Defender Days
• start time on Saturday, Oct.18 is set for 2:15pm
• both teams are tied with Morningside in the current GPAC standings with 16points
• Dordt is 5-2-1 in the GPAC, 6-5-2 overall
• Doane is 5-1-1 in the conference, 7-5-2 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:

• Dordt is 22-9-1 all-time against Doane, dating back to the first match played in 1997
• the Defenders have won three straight in the rivalry and are 8-1-1 in the last 10 matches against the Tigers
• last year, Dordt earned a pair of 3-0 wins against Doane
  • in the regular season match, Dordt led 2-0 at halftime with goals scored by Maria Zylstra and Karinna Tel
  • Dordt netted its third goal in the 74th minute by Eliza Evans
  • Dordt outshot Doane 14-4 (8-2 on-goal)
  • the Defenders earned another 3-0 win in the GPAC Quarterfinals
    • Karinna Tel scored all three goals, two in the first half
    • shot were even, 10-10; Doane had the edge (7-5) with shots on-goal
• Dordt is 14-3-1 at home against Doane
• the Defenders lost to the Tigers 6-4 in 2022
• Dordt has shutout Doane 14x, including in its last three matches
• Doane has shutout Dordt 6x

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders play an 18-match schedule this season, seven non-conference and 11 within GPAC play
• the Defenders have just three GPAC matches, four total, 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 18):

• Concordia - 5-1-2, 17pts
• Doane - 5-1-1, 16pts
• Dordt - 5-2-1, 16pts
• Morningside - 5-1-1, 16pts
• Hastings - 4-2-1, 13pts
• College of Saint Mary - 4-3, 12pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 3-1-3, 12pts
• Mount Marty - 3-2-2, 11pts
• Northwestern - 2-4-2, 8pts
• Briar Cliff - 1-5-1, 4pts
• Midland - 0-8, 0pts
• Waldorf - 0-7, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Saturday:

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

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 5-2-1 (T2nd in GPAC), 6-5-2 overall
  • Dordt earned a 3-0 win against Briar Cliff last time out (Oct. 15)
    • Maria Zylstra scored the first of her two goals on a penalty kick at the 17th minute
    • Zylstra scored again from an assist by Karinna Tel at the 32nd minute
    • Vicky Granda netted the Defenders final goal at the 40th minute from a corner kick by Joslyn Terpstra
    • Lydia Zylstra made seven saves and earned her fourth shutout of the season
  • 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: 31 / 2.38 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots: 214 (1st)
    • on-goal: 129 (4th)
  • goals allowed: 20 / 1.54 per match (7th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 186
    • on-goal allowed: 102
• 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 (2nd in GPAC; T6th in NAIA), 5 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Karinna Tel - 77 shots (1st in GPAC), 51 on-goal (1st in GPAC, 1st in NAIA)
  • Maria Zylstra - 4 goals, 6 assists (T3rd in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 3 goals, 5 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 3 goals, 5 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (6-5-2) - 79 saves (4th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra - 1,149 minutes
  • Abby Worthy - 1,037 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 - Doane Tigers

• 2025 Record: 5-1-1 (T2nd in GPAC), 7-5-2 overall
  • won three straight matches; unbeaten in its last five matches
  • last time out: def. Mount Marty 1-0 on Oct.15
    • Brianna Lynne Ehia scored the game-winner at the 6th minute
    • outshot Mount Marty 11-8 (total)
    • Virginia Johnson recorded her third shutout and made six saves
  • only GPAC loss was to Hastings (1-0) on Sept.24
• Head Coach: Jennifer Kennedy-Croft (9th year)
  • 2016 - 1st year at Doane
  • played at the University of Connecticut where she played in a national title match
  • previous coacing stops at UConn, Maine, Princeton, Rhode Island, Arkansas (all as ass't)
  • head coaching stops at Utah State and the University of Seattle
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (12 teams)
  • picked 7th in preseason coaches poll
• 2024 record: 5-2-4 (6th), 7-8-4 overall
  • lost to Dordt 3-0 in GPAC quarterfinals
• return six starters, 21 players
  • return 25 of 28 goals scored
  • return 11 of 13 assists
  • return #1 goalie
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 17 (1.2 per match - 8th in GPAC)
  • goals allowed - 14 (1.0 per match - 4th in GPAC)
• key returners:
  • McKenna Rathbun - 3x all-conference
  • Savannah Franzoy - scored 4 goals last year
  • Virginia Johnson - all-conference
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • McKenna Rathbun - 5
    • Brianna-Lynn Ehia - 4
  • Assists:
    • McKenna Rathbun - 5 (T5th in GPAC)
  • Saves:
    • Virginia Johnson (5-3-2) - 49 saves (10th in GPAC), 0.96 GAA