In a match filled with momentum swings and late-game drama, the Dordt University women's soccer team emerged victorious over Northwestern, earning a hard-fought 3-2 win Wednesday night at the Defender Soccer Complex.
The win ensures the Defenders will host a GPAC Quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov.4
The Defenders (7-2-2 GPAC, 9-5-3 overall) wasted no time asserting themselves, with Jenna Roberts opening the scoring in the 15th minute off an assist from Karinna Tel. Dordt controlled the tempo in the first half, outshooting the Red Raiders 8-1 and generating four corner kicks, but the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
Northwestern (3-6-2 GPAC, 7-8-2 overall)clawed back into the match in the 70th minute when Lucy Staines converted a penalty kick to tie the game. Dordt responded swiftly, as Karinna Tel netted her own goal in the 75th minute, assisted by Megan Aukes, to reclaim the lead.
The final minutes saw a flurry of action. Northwestern equalized again in the 88th minute with a goal from Camryn Wilkinson, set up by a cornerkick from Mya Cole. But Dordt had the final word — just 32 seconds later, Kelli Waypa scored the game-winner off a pass from Brooke Marjama, sending the home crowd into celebration.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt totaled 16 shots compared to seven by Northwestern
- the Defenders put 10 shots on-net; NW had five
- Jenna Roberts led all players with four shot on-goal, followed by Karinna Tel with three and Kelli Waypa with two
- Lydia Zylstra (9-5-3) made three saves
- Zylstra, Maria Eenigenburg and Lameese Batarseh all played the full 90 minutes
- 17 Defenders played in tonight's match
- Lucy Staines led the Defenders with two shots; three other Dordt players had one shot each
- Bailey Bynum (7-8-2) made five saves
Notes:
- Tel scored her GPAC-leading 22nd goal of the season
- Tel has recorded a point in five consecutive matches
- Roberts scored her fifth goal of the season
- Waypa netted her third goal of the season and her first game-winner
- Aukes tallied her first career point with her assist to Tel
- Brooke Marjama has two assists this season
- this was the eighth match this season with 10+ shots on-goal
- the Defenders have outshot their opponent in nine matches this season
- Dordt improved to 26-9-1 all-time against Northwestern
- the Defenders extended their unbeaten streak against the Red Raiders to seven
- the win ensures the Defenders will host a GPAC Quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov.4
