Game Time:

• the Dordt University women's soccer team will host Dakota State (S.D.) on Wednesday, Oct.22 in the final non-conference match of the regular season for the Defenders.
• kickoff at the Defenders Soccer Complex is scheduled for 5pm
• the Defenders have won two consecutive matches and are 7-5-2 overall
• Dakota State, in their first year as a varsity program, is 1-12-2 this season
• 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:

• this is the first meeting between the two teams

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders play an 18-match schedule this season, seven non-conference and 11 within GPAC play
• Wednesday's match is the final non-conference match of the regular season for the Defenders
• Dordt has two GPAC matches left in 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 21):

• Concordia - 6-1-2, 20pts
• Dordt - 6-2-1, 19pts
• Morningside - 6-1-1, 19pts
• Doane - 5-2-1, 16pts
• Hastings - 5-2-1, 16pts
• College of Saint Mary - 4-4, 12pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 3-2-3, 12pts
• Mount Marty - 3-3-2, 11pts
• Northwestern - 2-5-2, 8pts
• Briar Cliff - 2-5-1, 7pts
• Midland - 1-8, 3pts
• Waldorf - 0-8, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Wednesday:

• Dakota Wesleyan @ Briar Cliff
• College of Saint Mary @ Doane
• Midland @ Bellevue (non-conference)
• Dakota State @ Dordt (non-conference)
• Mount Marty @ Hastings
• Waldorf @ Morningside

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 7-5-2 overall
  • last time out, defeated Doane 2-0 on Saturday, Oct.18
    • the teams played a scoreless first half
    • Brooke Marjama netted her first career goal during the 64th minute, putting in a shot from outside the penalty box
    • Karinna Tel gave the Defenders a key insurance goal at the 69th minute with an assist by Abi Keltner
    • Lydia Zylstra and the Defenders recorded their second consecutive shutout
    • Dordt outshot Doane 17-2 (10-1 on-goal)
  • 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: 33 / 2.36 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots: 231 (3rd)
    • on-goal: 139 (T4th)
  • goals allowed: 20 / 1.43 per match (6th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 188
    • on-goal allowed: 103
• 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 - 18 goals (1st in GPAC; T5th in NAIA), 5 assists (T7th in GPAC)
  • Karinna Tel - 85 shots (1st in GPAC), 56 on-goal (1st in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 4 goals, 6 assists (T3rd in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 3 goals, 5 assists (T7th in GPAC)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 3 goals, 5 assists (T7th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (7-5-2) - 79 saves (4th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra - 1,239 minutes
  • Abby Worthy - 1,121 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 - Dakota State

• 2025 Record: 1-12-2 overall
  • unbeaten (1-0-1) in its last two matches
  • after earning a 4-1 win against Waldorf, the Trojans tied Buena Vista 1-1 on Oct.14
    • Nichole Corona put DSU up 1-0 in the 31st minute
    • allowed a second half goal (67th minute)
    • outshot BV 16-4 (8-4 on-goal)
    • Chloe Mart totaled three saves
• Head Coach: Todd Stank (1st year)
  • 1st head coach in program history
  • previously at St.Clair Community College (2020-24) where he also began the soccer program
  • coaching stop at Rochester (Mich.) where he led his team to the NAIA National Tournament
  • graduate of Siena Heights Univeristy (Mich.)
• Conference: Continental Athletic Conference (9 teams)
• 2024 record: n/a (1st year of program)
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 13 (0.9 per match)
  • goals allowed - 63 (4.2 per match)
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • Nichole Corona - 5
    • 3 players with  - 2
  • Assists:
    • Charli Zimmerman - 3
    • Kirsten Piskorski - 2
  • Saves:
    • Chloe Mart (1-4-1) - 63 saves, 3.31 GAA
    • Sierra Verplancke (0-7-1) - 56 saves, 5.26 GAA