Game Time:

• the Dordt University men's soccer team will wrap up its regular season with a Wednesday night (Oct.29) match at home against Northwestern
• kickoff at the Defenders Soccer Complex is set for 5pm
• Dordt is currently in a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot for the GPAC Postseason Tournament with a 1-4-4 record
• Northwestern has secured the No.1 seed and a share of the GPAC regular season title with a 7-1-1 league record
• 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 13-19-2 all-time against Northwestern, dating back to th 1995 season when the Red Raiders added their men's soccer program
• the Defenders are 0-8-2 in their last 10 matches against NWC
• Dordt is winless in its last 13 matches against the Red Raiders (0-11-2)
• Dordt's last victory against NW is 2014 (1-0) and last win at home is the 2011 season
• the Defenders went 0-1-1 against NW last year
  • the teams played to a 1-1 tie in the final match of the regular season
    • Dordt was outshot 4-3 (on-goal), 15-6 overall
    • Tyson Reitsma tied the match with a goal at the 62nd minute
  • Dordt lost to NWC 5-1 in the GPAC quarterfinals
    • the Defenders trailed 2-0 at halftime
    • Trigve Elkins netted Dordt's lone goal at the 64th minute

Schedule Outlook:

• The Defenders play a 17-match schedule in 2025, featuring a 10-match conference slate and seven non-conference matches
• Wednesday's match is the final of the regular season
• GPAC Tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.1
• 2025 Schedule | 

GPAC Standings (as of October 29):

• Northwestern - 7-1-1, 22pts
• Midland - 6-2-1, 19pts
• Concordia - 6-3, 18pts
• Morningside - 5-2-2, 17pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 5-3-1, 16pts
• Hastings - 4-2-3, 15pts
• Briar Cliff - 3-4-2, 11pts
• Doane - 1-3-4, 7pts
• Dordt - 1-4-4, 7pts
• Mount Marty - 1-5-4, 7pts
• Waldorf - 0-9, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Wednesday, Oct.29

• Northwestern @ Dordt
• Briar Cliff @ Waldorf
• Hastings @ (RV) Midland
• Morningside @ Dakota Wesleyan
• Doane @ Concordia

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 1-4-4 (T8th w/ Doane, Mount Marty), 4-6-6 overall
  • last time out:
    • lost to Concordia 2-0 on Saturday, Oct.25
    • both teams tallied five shots on-goal
    • scoreless at the half, Concordia scored during the 50th and 67th minute
• 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: 23 / 1.5 per match (T8th in GPAC)
    • total shots: 227
    • on-goal: 105 (4th)
  • goals allowed: 21 / 1.31 per match (T5th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 152
    • on-goal allowed: 81
• 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:
  • Anton Forsch - 5 goals
  • Trigve Elkins, Marco Laenen - 3 goals
  • Anton Forsch - 3 assists
  • Tate Hansen, Enzo Lira de Paula - 2 assists
  • Pablo Martin Domingo - 14 shots on-goal
  • 20 Defenders have scored at least one point this season
  • Shad Jaeger - 42 saves (7th in GPAC) (3-5-4 record)
  • minutes played - Anton Forsch: 1,359
    •     Levi Jaeger: 1,269
• returning all-conference players:
  • Marco Laenen (2023)
  • Nolan Karel (2024)
  • Tyson Reitsma (2x, 2022 and 2024)
  • Levi Jaeger (2024)

Scouting Report - Northwestern Red Raiders

• 2025 Record: 7-1-1 (22pts) - 1st in GPAC, 12-2-2 overall
  • last time out:
    • clinched a tie for the GPAC regular season title and the No.1 seed in the postseason tournament with a 2-1 win against Midland on Saturday
    • outshot by Midland 13-7 (total) but a 5-4 edge in shots on-goal
    • Diego Quintero scored during the 28th minute for a 1-0 lead
    • after a Midland goal early in 2nd half, NW netted the game-winner at the 71st minute by Daniel Lindahl
    • Edoardo Alessandrini (11-2-2) made three saves
• Head Coach: Dan Swier (18th year)
  • 2008 - 1st year
  • longest tenured and winningest coach in program history
  • 171 wins
  • 3 GPAC regular season titles and one postseason championship (2023)
  • guided NW to 14 straight GPAC tournaments, 16 of 18
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (11 teams)
  • picked 5th in the preseason coaches' poll
• in 2024: 6-2-2 (T3rd w/ Hastings, Midland), 9-5-4 overall
  • def. Dordt in GPAC Quarterfinal
  • lost to Concordia 3-2 in semifinals
• return four starters, 12 players
• return 8 of 40 goals scored, 8 of 27 assists
• by the numbers:
  • 36 goals, 2.3 / match (3rd)
  • 12 goals allowed, 0.7 / match (1st)
• key returners:
  • James Kuehn (all-conference) 
  • Gonzalo Domingo (all-conference)
  • Miller Rojas (all-conference)
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • Drew Darnold - 13 (2nd in GPAC)
    • James Kuehn, Daniel Lindahl - 4
  • Points: 
    • Drew Darnold - 28 (2nd in GPAC)
  • Assists:
    • Jovany Kabongo - 5 (Tied 3rd in GPAC)
  • Saves:
    • Edoardo Alessandrini (11-2-2) - 37 saves (9th)