Game Time:

• the Dordt University women's soccer team concludes its regular season with a home match against Northwestern on Wednesday night, Oct.29
• start time at the Defenders Soccer Complex is set for 7:15pm
• Dordt is unbeaten in its last four matches (3-0-1) and is tied with Hastings for third in the GPAC with Hastings at 6-2-2 (20pts)
• Northwestern earned a win last time out and is in ninth place in the GPAC with a 3-5-2 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 leads the all-time series 25-9-1, dating back to the first matchup played during the 1996 season
• the Defenders are 14-6-1 all-time at home against the Red Raiders
• Dordt is 6-3-1 in its last 10 against NW and unbeaten in its last six matches (5-0-1)
• last year, Dordt earned a 6-5 win against Northwestern in a wild match to end the season
  • the Defenders fell behind 3-0 after 15 minutes
  • Karinna Tel scored two goals prior to halftime and trailed 4-2 after one period
  • Dordt erupted for four goals over a 27-minute stretch in the second half, two more by Tel and two by Hayden Jennett
  • Northwestern added a late goal during the 80th minute
  • Dordt outshot NWC 23-18 (13-9 on-goal)
• Dordt has shutout Northwestern 12 times; been shutout 8x

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders play an 18-match schedule this season, seven non-conference and 11 within GPAC play
• Wednesday's match concludes the regular season and is the final tune-up prior to postseason
• GPAC postseason tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.4
• 2025 Schedule | 

GPAC Standings (as of October 29):

• Morningside - 8-1-1, 25pts (clinched GPAC regular season title)
• Concordia - 6-1-3, 21pts
• Dordt - 6-2-2, 20pts
• Hastings - 6-2-2, 20pts
• Doane - 6-3-1, 19pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 4-2-4, 16pts
• Mount Marty - 4-3-3, 15pts
• College of Saint Mary - 4-5-1, 13pts
• Northwestern - 3-5-2, 11pts
• Briar Cliff - 2-7-1, 7pts
• Midland - 1-9, 3pts
• Waldorf - 0-10, 0pts

GPAC Schedule for Wednesday:

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

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 6-2-2 (T3rd), 8-5-3 overall
  • last time out, played to a 1-1 tie against Concordia in Seward, Neb. last weekend
    • Dordt was outshot 16-6 overall, 8-3 on-goal
    • Karinna Tel put the Defenders up 1-0 with a goal during the 40th minute
    • Concordia netted the equalizer at the 83rd minute
    • Lydia Zylstra (8-5-3) made seven saves
  • Dordt has shutout three of its last four opponents
  • Dordt has played five teams that are currently ranked in the NAIA coaches poll
    • Missouri Valley, Eastern Oregon, College of Idaho, Hastings and Concordia
• 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: 41 / 2.56 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots: 277 (3rd)
    • on-goal: 162 (3rd)
  • goals allowed: 21 / 1.31 per match (6th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 205
    • on-goal allowed: 111
• 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 - 21 goals (1st in GPAC; 6th in NAIA), 7 assists (4th in GPAC)
  • Karinna Tel -96 shots (1st in GPAC), 61 on-goal (1st in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 5 goals, 8 assists (3rd in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 4 goals, 6 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 3 goals, 5 assists (T9th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (8-5-3) - 86 saves (6th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra - 1,419 minutes
  • Abby Worthy - 1,280 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 - Northwestern

• 2025 Record: 3-5-2 (9th in GPAC), 7-7-2 overall
  • snapped a six-match winless streak last time out with a 3-0 victory against Midland
    • led 1-0 at halftime with a goal from Camryn Wilkinson
    • Aliza Edwards netted two second half goals
    • Bailey Bynum contributed six saves
• Head Coach: Vitor Pereira (1st year)
  • hired in the spring of 2025
  • previously served as an ass't for the women's program at Oklahoma Wesleyan
  • played for and graduated from College of Idaho
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (12 teams)
  • picked 9th in preseason coaches poll
• 2024 record: 4-7 (9th), 4-13-1 overall
  • did not qualify for postseason
• return 3 starters, 14 players from last year
• return 6 of 38 goals scored
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 29, 1.8 / match (5th)
  • goals allowed - 26, 1.63 / match (8th)
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Goals:
    • Aliza Edwards - 11 (3rd in GPAC)
    • Lucy Staines - 5 
    • Olivia Regnerus - 4
  • Assists:
    • Aliza Edwards - 6 (5th in GPAC)
    • Lucy Staines - 4
  • Saves:
    • Bailey Bynum (7-7-2) 1.65 GAA, 79 saves (7th in GPAC)