Game Time:

• The Dordt University women's soccer team makes the trip west for a match-up against Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday, Sept.24
• this is the first of two road matches the Defenders will play this week
• start time under the lights at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex is set for 7:30pm
• Dordt is 1-0 in the GPAC, 2-3-1 overall; DWU is 0-1 in the league, 1-2-3 overall
• Watch the match live via the DWU webcast at the link below:
  • Watch |
• Live Stats are also available for all of the Defenders matches, both home and away
  • Live Stats | 

All-Time:

• Wednesday's match will be the 20th in the rivalry between Dordt and Dakota Wesleyan
• the Defenders have won eight straight matches and hold a 13-5-1 advantage in the series
• last year, Dordt earned a 7-0 home win over the Tigers
  • Karinna Tel scored the first of her three goals on a penalty kick just 1:40 in the match
  • Joslyn Terpstra scored a goal and totaled two assists
  • both Hayden Jennett and Maria Zylstra also scored one goal each
• the Defenders have dominated the rivalry at home (8-1-1) and also hold a 5-4 edge in matches played in Mitchell

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
• Dakota Wesleyan was picked 10th in the GPAC preseason poll

Schedule Outlook:

• the Defenders play an 18-match schedule this season, seven non-conference and 11 within GPAC play
• Wednesday's match is the Defenders second in GPAC play and the second in a string of nine straight conference match-ups
• 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: 1-0 (GPAC), 2-3-1 overall
  • last time out: 
    • opened GPAC play with a 3-2 win against Midland on Saturday, Sept. 20
      • scored two first half goals for a 2-0 lead by halftime
      • Midland tied the match with a pair of goals in the first five minutes of the second half
      • Karinna Tel netted the game winner of an assist from Joslyn Terpstra during the 85th minute
  • Dordt has played three teams that are currently ranked in the NAIA coaches poll
    • Missouri Valley, Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho
• 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: 13 / 2.17 per match (T5th in GPAC)
    • total shots: 86
    • on-goal: 55
  • goals allowed: 14 / 2.33 per match (9th in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 94
    • on-goal allowed: 54
• 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 - 10 goals (1st in GPAC; tied for 4th in NAIA)
  • Karinna Tel - 38 shots (1st in GPAC, 6th in NAIA), 25 on-goal (1st in GPAC, 4th in NAIA)
  • Maria Zylstra - 4 assists (3rd in GPAC); Joslyn Terpstra - 3 assists (7th in GPAC)
  • Lydia Zylstra (2-3-1) - 37 saves
  • Abi Keltner - 540 minutes played
• 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 - Dakota Wesleyan Tigers

• 2025 Record: 0-1 (GPAC), 1-2-3 overall
  • lost 1-0 to Mount Marty in their GPAC opener on Sept.20
    • outshot the Lancers 16-7 (9-5 on-goal)
    • Abigial Cosgrove made three saves and allowed one goal in 81 minutes; Bailey Lester made one save in nine minutes
  • only win was a 5-0 win against Dakota State (Sept.16)
  • tied Buena Vista, York and Nebraska Wesleyan
• Head Coach: John Hakari (3rd year)
  • hired in the spring of 2023
  • previously coaching stop at Southeast Community College (Neb.)
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (12 teams)
  • picked 10th in preseason coaches poll
• 2024 record: 3-7-1 (10th), 4-9-1 overall
  • did not qualify for GPAC tournament
• return 7 starters, 16 players
  • return 15 of 18 goals scored, 9 of 13 assists
• 2025, by the numbers:
  • goals - 9 (1.5 per match - 8th in GPAC)
  • goals allowed - 7 (1.2 per match-3rd in GPAC)
• key returners (stats from 2024):
  • Annika Enevoldsen  - 1 goal, 1 assist
  • Hannah Petrucci (all-conference) - 7 goals, 3 assists
  • Mikayla Adams - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Abigail Colgrove (all-conference) - 2-6 record
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Hannah Petrucci - 3 goals, 32 shots
  • Anna Enevoldsen - 2 goals, 4 assists (3rd in GPAC)
  • Abigail Colgrove - 11 saves