Dordt University women's soccer opened Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Midland University on Saturday afternoon at the Dordt Soccer Complex.
Junior forward
Karinna Tel led the Defenders with two goals, including the game-winner in the 85th minute, while
Maria Zylstra added a goal and an assist in a strong offensive showing. Dordt improves to
2-3-1 overall and 1-0 in GPAC play, while Midland falls to
1-4-1 (0-1 GPAC).
Dordt struck first in the 16th minute when Zylstra finished off an assist by
Joslyn Terpstra, who tallied two assists on the day. Tel doubled the lead in the 30th minute, converting a pass from Zylstra to give the Defenders a 2-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Midland responded quickly after the break, scoring twice in the opening three minutes of the second half.
Addison Castellanos netted an unassisted goal in the 46th minute, followed by
Stella Weidner's equalizer off a feed from
Jordyn Van Rensburg in the 48th.
With the match hanging in the balance, Dordt continued to press and finally broke through in the 85th minute. Tel found space in the box and buried her second goal of the match, again assisted by Terpstra, to seal the win.
Dordt outshot Midland
25-6, including
16 shots on goal. Midland goalkeeper
Ava Brandt made
13 saves to keep the Warriors in the match. Dordt's
Lydia Zylstra recorded
2 saves in the win.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt held a commanding 25-6 advantage in total shots, 16-4 with shots on-goal
- Tel led the Defenders with six shots on-goal, followed by Terpstra with three and Zylstra, Jenna Roberts and Hayden Jennett all tallied two shots on net
- Terpstra led the Defenders with two assists
- Lydia Zylstra (2-3-1) stopped two Midland shots and earned the win in goal
- five Defenders, Jennett, Abi Keltner, Lameese Batarseh, Abby Worthy and Lydia Zylstra played the full 90 minutes
- four Midland players, Madalyn Flynn, Cecily Barcenas, Addison Castellanos and Stella Weidner all had one shot on-goal
- Ava Brandt (1-3-1) made 13 saves for Midland
Defender Notes:
- Tel leads the GPAC and is tied for fourth in the NAIA with 10 goals
- Tel has scored a goal in five straight matches
- Maria Zylstra ranks second on the team with six points and leads the team with four assists
- this was the first win against Midland since 2020
- the Defenders are now 14-18-2 all-time against the Warriors
Up Next:
- Dordt will play Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday, Sept.24 in Mitchell, S.D., the first of two road games next week
