The Event: 

• The Dordt University women's soccer team opens its 2025 slate with a pair of road matches against NAIA teams from the Great Northwest part of the United States. On Thursday, August 21, the Defenders match up against Eastern Oregon in La Grande, Ore. for a 1pm (CST) start time at Community Stadium. Following an off day on Friday, Dordt heads to Caldwell, Idaho to play No.3 College of Idaho on Saturday, August 22 at noon (CST).
• follow the live stats at this link: Live Stats
• watch the Eastern Oregon match on Thursday at this link: Watch (payment required)
• watch the College of Idaho match on Saturday at this link: Watch (payment required)

All-Time:

• this will be the first-ever match between Dordt and both Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho

GPAC Preseason Poll:

• the Defenders were picked to finish third of 12 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) poll released last week
• this is the second consecutive season Dordt is picked to finish third
• Dordt totaled 97 points, trailing Hastings (1st) and Concordia (2nd) with 120 and 108 points, respectively

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders will play an 18-match schedule this season, beginning with this weekend on the west coast
• Dordt opens the season with six non-conference matches, three at home and three on the road
• the Defenders home opener will be on Friday night, August 29, against the University of Sioux Falls
• following its final non-conference match on Sept. 6 against 12th-ranked Missouri Valley, Dordt begins its 11-match GPAC slate againt Midland (Neb.) on Sept.20
• Dordt will play its final non-conference match on Oct.22 against Dakota State before closing out the regular season at Concordia (Oct.25) and home against Northwestern (Oct.29)
• GPAC postseason tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.4
• 2025 Schedule | 

Defenders News and Notes:

• 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
• 2024 Defenders record: 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
  • five all-conference players return
    • Karinna Tel - GPAC Player of the Year (2x)
    • Joslyn Terpstra - 1st team
    • Abby Worthy - 2nd team
    • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention
    • Hayden Jennett - Honorable Mention
  • the Defenders return their top three goal scorers from last year
  • 56 of 67 goals, 47 of 57 assists return
• 2024, by the numbers:
  • goals scored: 67 (1st in GPAC), 3.7 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • 57 assists (1st)
  • goals allowed: 22 (4th), 1.25 (4th)
• Key Returners:
  • Karinna Tel - NAIA All-American, GPAC Player of the Year
    • led GPAC in goals (34), points (76)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 1st team all-conference
    • 9 goals, 16 assists (1st in GPAC)
  • Abby Worthy - 2nd team all-conference
    • 3-year starter in the back (1 goal, 5 assists)
  • Hayden Jennett - HM all-conference
    • 3-year starter in the back (5 goals, 4 assists)
  • Paige MIller - HM all-conference
    • started all 18 matches in the back
  • Jenna Roberts - played 18 matches with four starts
    • 3 goals, 5 assists
  • Maria Zylstra - played in 18 matches, 6 starts
    • 2 goals, 3 assists
  • Abby Foster - played in 13 matches, 3 starts
    • 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Lydia Zylstra - played in four matches, 2 starts in goal
    • 7 saves, 2-0 record

Scouting Report on Eastern Oregon:

• Head Coach: Josh Goodman (3rd year)
  • took over the Mountaineers program in the spring of 2023
  • spent three years as the assistant coach
• Conference: Cascade Collegiate (13 teams)
  • picked 3rd in preseason poll
• 2024 Record:  10-5-3 overall, 8-3-1 overall (3rd)
  • lost to Oregon Tech in conference semifinals
• return seven starters, 26 players from 2024
• by the numbers (based on 2024 stats)
  • goals scored: 25 (1.47 / match)
  • goals against: 13 (.76 / match)
• Key Players Returning (2023 stats)
  • Karina DeYoung - all-conference defender
  • Sydney Peck - all-conference defender
  • Madeline Barker - goalkeeper, 4-3 record, 29 saves, 0.62 GAA
  • Ashley Smith - 2 goals, 4 assists
  • Grace Schafer - 3 goals, 1 assist
• of note:
  • qualified for the NAIA regionals 3x, most recent  in 2006

Scouting Report on No.3 College of Idaho:

• Head Coach: Brian Smith (13th year) 
  • 136-75-26 overall record (63%)
  • began coaching tenure for the Yotes in 2004 as the head of the men's program
  • 2012 - coach of both men's and women's program
  • head of the women's program only since 2013
• Conference: Cascade Collegiate (13 teams)
  • picked as the conference favorite
• NAIA ranking: 3rd
  • highest ever ranking in program
• 2024 Record: 20-1-2 overall, 12-0 (1st in CCC)
  • lost to SCAD-Savannah 2-0 in NAIA semifinals
• return eight starters from 2024
• by the numbers (based on 2023 stats)
  • goals scored: 80 (3.5 / match)
  • goals against: 15 (0.65 / match)
• Key Players Returning (2023 stats)
  • Eden Makaafi - All-American (2x)
    • 16 goals
  • Kyndra Lyons - All-American
    • 6 assists
  • Abbi Roubidoux - 11 goals, 5 assists
  • Natasja Davis - 10 goals, 3 assists
  • Alivia Brenchley - 14-0-2 record, 48 saves, .774 GAA