Game Time:

• The Dordt University women's soccer team will make its home debut for the 2025 season with a pair of matches this weekend. The Defenders will play an exhibition match against the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Friday night at 5pm followed by another home match against Bethel (Kan.) on Saturday at 5pm. Both matches will be played at the Defenders Soccer Complex.
• all home matches for the 2025 season are available to watch via the Dordt Media Network:
  • Watch |
• Live Stats are also available for all of the Defenders matches, both home and away
  • Live Stats | 

All-Time:

• the Defenders hold a 15-2 advantage in the rivaly against USF
  • the teams played at least once per season when USF was part of the Great Plains Athletic Conference
  • the last match played was in 2010, the final year the Cougars were part of the GPAC
  • Dordt has won five straight and has not lost since 2006
• this will be the first ever match-up between Dordt and Bethel

GPAC Preseason Poll:

• the Defenders were picked to finish third of 12 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) poll 
• 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 play an 18-match schedule this season, beginning with last weekend on the west coast
• Dordt opens the season with six non-conference matches, three at home and three on the road
• 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:

• 2025 Record: 0-2
  • the Defenders opened their season with a pair of road matches last weekend, losing to Eastern Oregon 4-0 and to No.3 College of Idaho 3-1
• 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: 1
    • total shots: 7
    • on-goal: 4
  • goals allowed: 7
    • total shots allowed: 52
    • on-goal allowed: 25
• 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 - 1 goal
  • Karinna Tel - 5 shots, 2 on-goal
  • Lydia Zylstra (0-2) - 18 saves
  • Abi Keltner, Lydia Zylstra - 180 minutes played
• returning all-conference players:
  • Karinna Tel - GPAC Player of the Year (2x)
  • Joslyn Terpstra - 1st team
  • Abby Worthy - 2nd team
  • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention
  • Hayden Jennett - Honorable Mention

Scouting Report - University of Sioux Falls Cougars

• 2025 Record: 0-0
• Head Coach: Joe DeMay (1st year)
  • third head coach in program history
  • served as the Sporting Director for the Sioux Falls City F.C. for three years
• NCAA D-II
• Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (16 teams)
  • preseason poll: tied for 13th with the University of Jamestown
  • Minnesota State was picked 1st
• last year's record: 2-11-1 (13th place), 2-15-1 overall
  • did not qualify for the conference tournament
• return seven starters, 19 players
  • return 4 of 12 goals scored, 4 of 8 assists
• key returners (stats from 2024 season):
  • Mariah Siem - started 18 matches, 1 goal
  • Lily Dahler - started 16 matches, 1 goal, 2 assists
  • Mara Nelson - started 18 matches, 2 goals
  • Alivia Tindall - started 18 matches

Scouting Report - Bethel Threshers:

• 2025 Record: 0-0
• Head Coach: James Lipocky (1st year)
  • spent last two years as head coach at Eastern Nazarene College (Mass.)
  • previously head coach at Indiana Tech from 2007-22
    • all-time winningest coach
• Conference: Kansas Collegiate Athletic (14 teams)
  • preseason poll: picked 11th
  • No.16 Oklahoma Wesleyan was picked 1st
• last year's record: 4-8-1 (11th place), 6-10-2 overall
  • did not qualify for the conference tournament
• return six starters, 17 players
  • return 20 of 34 goals scored, 10 of 17 assists
• key returners:
  • Malayasia Larque (all-conference) - led team with nine goals scored, 1 assist
  • Beth Lloyd (starter) - 6 goals, 4 assists
  • Madison Davis (starter) -3 goals, 2 assists
  • Lilli Reisser  (starter) - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Jacie Scott (#2 goalie) - 8 matches played, 3-2 record, 44 saves