Game Time:

• the Dordt University women's soccer team continues its postseason run with a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) semifinal match this weekend against Mount Marty (S.D.)
• kickoff at the Defenders Soccer Complex on Saturday, Nov.8 is scheduled for 5pm
• Dordt, the No.4 seed in the 8-team postseason tournament, is 10-5-3 overall
• Mount Marty is the No.8 seed and brings a 7-7-4 record into Saturday's match
• 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 22-1-2 all-time against Mount Marty, dating back to the first match-up played in 2002
• the Defenders have won 13 straigh and are unbeaten in their last 14 matches against Mount Marty
• earlier this season (Sept.27), the Defenders earned a 6-0 road win against the Lancers in Yankton, S.D.
  • Dordt raced out to a 3-0 lead with three goals by Karinna Tel in the first 13 minutes
  • Jenna Roberts put the Defenders in front 4-0 by halftime with a goal at the 22nd minute
  • Joclyn Terpstra and Roberts both added a single goal in the second half
  • Dordt outshot the Lancers 7-4 (on-goal)
  • Lydia Zylstra made four saves and earned the shutout
  • four different Mount Marty players had one shot on-goal each: Kamil Bennett, Shakira Nolasco, Avery Kimball, Liz Stordahl
• Dordt is 10-1 at home against the Lancers
• the teams played to a tie in 2013 (0-0) and 2010 (1-1)
• Mount Marty earned a 4-0 win against the Defenders in 2012
• Dordt has shutout Mount Marty 19x, including in its last two matches
• the teams have never played in the postseason

GPAC Tournament Schedule:

• Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  Quarterfinal Round
  #8 Mount Marty tied #1 Morningside, 1-1 (2 OT); Lancers win on PK's 3-2
  #4 Dordt def. #5 Doane, 2-0
  #3 Hastings def. #6 Dakota Wesleyan, 2-0
  #2 Concordia def. #7 College of Saint Mary, 3-0

  Saturday, November 8, 2025
  Semifinal Round
  #8 Mount Marty @ #4 Dordt, 5pm
  #3 Hastings @ #2 Concorda, 6pm

  Wednesday, November 12, 2025
  GPAC Postseason Championship
  Semifinal winners at highest seed remaining, time TBA

GPAC Standings (Final):

• Morningside - 8-1-2, 26pts
• Concordia - 7-1-3, 24pts
• Hastings - 7-2-2, 23pts
• Dordt - 7-2-2, 23pts
• Doane - 6-4-1, 19pts
• Dakota Wesleyan - 4-2-5, 17pts
• College of Saint Mary - 5-5-1, 16pts
• Mount Marty - 4-4-3, 15pts
• Northwestern - 3-6-2, 11pts
• Briar Cliff - 3-7-1, 10pts
• Midland - 1-10, 3pts
• Waldorf - 0-11, 0pts

GPAC Tournament History:

• Dordt:
  • the Defenders have qualified for the GPAC postseason tournament 23 out of 26 seasons
  • this is the 11th straight season Dordt has qualified, last missing the tournament in 2014
  • Dordt is 15-21 all-time in the tournament after its 2-0 win against Doane in Tuesday's quarterfinal
  • the Defenders improved to 9-10 all-time in the quarterfinals and three straight quarterfinal match-ups
  • Dordt is 5-7 all-time in the GPAC semifinals
    • most recently, the Defenders lost to Concordia 1-0 in 2024
    • this is the third straight year the Defenders have reached the semifinals
    • 2024 - L
    • 2023 - W
    • 2010 - L
    • 2009 - L
    • 2008 - W
    • 2006 - L
    • 2005 - W
    • 2004- W
    • 2003 - L
    • 2002 - W
    • 2001 - L
    • 2000 - L
  • Dordt won the conference tournament in 2008
  • the Defenders have reached the GPAC Title match five times, going 1-4 in the championship match
    • 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2023
  • Dordt has never played Mount Marty in the postseason
• Mount Marty:
  • this is just the second time the Lancers have qualified for the conference tournament
  • they lost to Morningside 1-0 in the 2013 quarterfinals
  • Tuesday's match that resulted in a 1-1 draw with the Lancers advancing on PK's is the first time they have advanced into the semifinals

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 7-2-2 (T3rd in GPAC), 10-5-3 overall
  • the Defenders finished the regular season tied with Hastings for third place in the GPAC
  • Hastings earns the No.3 seed by way of the tie-break with a 3-0 win against Dordt this season
  • last time out: 
    • Dordt earned a 2-0 win against Doane in Tuesday's GPAC Quarterfinal
    • this was the second win for the Defenders against Doane this season
    • Maria Zylstra put the Defenders in front 1-0 with a goal off an assist by Karinna Tel midway in the first half
    • Tel gave the Defenders a 2-0 lead with a goal during the 51st minute
    • Dordt outshot Doane 17-11; the teams were even 8-8 in shots on-goal
    • Lydia Zylstra (10-5-3) made eight saves and earned her seventh shutout
  • Dordt has played five teams that are currently ranked in the NAIA coaches poll
    • #4 Missouri Valley, #7 College of Idaho, (RV) Hastings, (RV) Morningside, (RV) 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: 46 / 2.6 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots: 310 (1st)
    • on-goal: 180 (3rd)
  • goals allowed: 23 / 1.28 per match (6th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 223
    • on-goal allowed: 124
• 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 - 23 goals (1st in GPAC; T6th in NAIA), 9 assists (T2nd in GPAC)
  • Karinna Tel - 107 shots (1st in GPAC), 68 on-goal (1st in GPAC, 1st in NAIA)
  • Maria Zylstra - 6 goals, 8 assists (4th in GPAC)
  • Jenna Roberts - 5 goals, 6 assists (T5th in GPAC)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 3 goals, 5 assists (T9th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (10-5-3) - 97 saves (5th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra - 1,587minutes
  • Abby Worthy - 1,440 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 - Mount Marty Lancers

• 2025 Record: 4-4-3 (8th in GPAC), 7-7-4 overall
  • most wins in a season in program history (previous best: 5 in 2013)
  • earned the No.8 seed with 15pts
  • qualified for its second GPAC tournament in program history
  • last time out:
    • played to a 1-1 tie against No.1 seed Morningside in the GPAC Quarterfinals
    • advanced to the semifinals with a 3-2 win in penalty kicks
    • Rhyli Grim sent the match into overtime with a goal in the 86th minute
    • Brooklyn McNac (7-6-4) made six saves
    • outshot Morningside 8-7 (on-goal)
  • last win: 3-0 vs Waldorf on Oct.26
  • tied three ranked teams (Concordia, Morningside and Hastings) during the regular season
• Head Coach: Joe Chicks (1st year)
  • hired in February of 2025
  • previously coached at Lower Columbia College (Juco) for five years
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (12 teams)
  • picked 11th in preseason coaches poll
• 2024 record: 1-10 (11th), 4-12-1 overall
  • did not qualify for GPAC tournament
• return 2 starters, 5 players
  • return 1 of 14 goals scored; 1 of 4 assists; return starting goalie
• 14 transfers, primarily from Lower Columbia College, along with five freshman join the returners
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 30 (1.7 per match - 6th in GPAC)
  • goals allowed - 26 (1.43 per match-7th in GPAC)
• key returners (stats from 2024):
  • Aubrie Lloyd - returning starter, one goal
  • Brooklyn McNac (all-conference) 
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Rhyli Grim - 9 goals (7th in GPAC), 9 assists (T2nd), 27pts (5th)
  • Alexia Valdez - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Avery Kimball - 3 goals, 1 assist
  • Alyssa Rios - 3 goals
  • Brooklyn McNac - 7-6-4 record, 105 saves