Karinna Tel was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and headlines a list of eight Dordt University players to earn all-conference honors for the 2025 season.
Tel earns the top honor for a GPAC women's soccer record third time and is now a four-time all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive season. The senior from Puyallup, Washinton led the GPAC in goals (26) and points (61) while ranking tied for third in the league with nine assists. Tel accounted for four hat tricks this season, including in the Defenders conference semifinal win against Mount Marty. She scored a goal in 14 matches this season and recorded at least one point in 16 matches. At the national level, Tel ranked second in the NAIA in points and third in goals scored. Tel concluded her four-year playing career as the Defenders all-time leader in goals scored (98), assists (42) and points (238). Tel is one of three Defender players to earn GPAC Player of the Year honors:
- Karinna Tel, GPAC Player of the Year (Offense) - 2023, 2024, 2025
- Kate Du Mez, GPAC Player of the Year (Offense) - 2008, 2009
- Kelsie De Nooy, GPAC Player of the Year (Defense) - 2008
Two Defenders,
Maria Zylstra and
Abby Worthy, were named to the 15-player, second-team. Zylstra, a sophomore from Sheboygan, Wis., was second on the team with six goals scored and 22 points while ranking second in the conference in assists (10). She registered her first two-goal match in the Defenders win against Briar Cliff (Oct.15) and had a career-best three assists in the win against Bethel (Kan.) on August 30. Zylstra was named GPAC Player of the Week on October 20 and earns the postseason honor for the first time.
Worthy, a four-year starter for the Defenders, takes home all-conference honors for the third consecutive season. A main-stay along the Defenders back-line and team captain, Worthy was second on the team with 1,620 minutes played this season. She recorded an assist in the Defenders win against Dakota State (Oct.22) and closes out her career with two goals and 13 assists in 76 matches.
Five Dordt players claimed honorable mention all-conference honors;
Lameese Batarseh,
Hayden Jennett,
Jenna Roberts,
Joslyn Terpstra and
Lydia Zylstra.
Batarseh started 18 matches along the backline and played the fourth-most minutes on the team this season. The freshman from Folsom, Calif. was part of a defense that ranked fifth in the GPAC in goals against average (1.2) and recorded nine shutouts.
Jennett earns the postseason honor for the second time after starting 10 matches until a season-ending injury cut her season short in the match against Morningside. Jennett, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., was part of a defense that ranked fifth in the GPAC in goals against average (1.2) and recorded nine shutouts. A four-year starter, Jennett ends her career with eight goals and seven assists in 67 matches.
Roberts ranked third on the team with 16 points as part of the Defenders midfield this season. The sophomore from Clive, Iowa, netted five goals and totaled six assists in her second season with the program. Roberts turned in a two-goal performance in the regular season win against Mount Marty and had two assists in the win against Waldorf (Oct.1). Roberts started 15 matches and earns the postseason honor for the first time.
Terpstra totaled 11 points with three goals and five assists as a forward this season. Terpstra started 14 of 17 matches and accounted for two assists to help the Defenders secure a 3-2 win against Midland (Sept.20). This is third consecutive season that Terpstra claims the postseason honor and has 23 goals and 29 assists in three seasons.
Zylstra posted an 11-6-3 record and played nearly every minute as the Defenders starting goalkeeper. The senior from Pella, Iowa, ranked second in the GPAC with eight shutouts and allowed 1.17 goals per match. Zylstra was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept.29) and had three matches with double-digit saves. She totaled 105 saves this season and earns the postseason honor for the first time.
Dordt ended the season with an 11-6-3 record and tied Hastings for third place in the GPAC at 7-2-2.
