Game Time:

• The Dordt University men's soccer team continues its 2025 season this weekend as they embark on a road trip to Yankton, S.D. for a match against Mount Marty
• start time on Crane-Youngworth Field is set for 5pm
• the Defenders are 0-2 in the GPAC, 2-4-2 overall; Mount Marty is 0-1-1 in the GPAC, 2-2-1 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:

• Saturday's match will be the 29th all-time meeting between Dordt and Mount Marty
• the Defenders lead the all-time series 23-3-2, dating back to the first-ever match played in 1978
• the Defenders earned a 1-0 win last year in Yankton, S.D.
  • the teams combined for five shots on-goal (Dordt - 3, MMC - 2)
  • Dordt scored the game-winner during the 80th minute on a goal by Phil Appelt, assisted by Tyson Reitsma
• Dordt is 3-1-1 in its last five matches vs the Lancers, 6-2-2 in its last 10
• the Defenders are 12-2-1 all-time in matches played in Yankton
• Dordt has shutout Mount Marty the last two years and for a total of 10x all-time
• the Defenders have been shutout in all three of its losses against the Lancers

GPAC Preseason Poll:

• the Defenders were picked to finish eighth of 11 teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) poll released last week
• Dordt totaled 37 points, 12 points in back of No.7 Dakota Wesleyan and three points in front of No.9 Doane
• Mount Marty was picked 10th in the GPAC preseason poll

Schedule Outlook:

• The Defenders play a 17-match schedule in 2025, featuring a 10-match conference slate and seven non-conference matches
• Saturday's match is the third of four consecutive GPAC matches before the Defenders play 6th-ranked Bellevue on Oct.4
• the Defenders will play their final six GPAC matches after the Oct.4 date vs the Bruins
• GPAC Tournament play begins with the quarterfinals on Nov.1
• 2025 Schedule | 

Defenders News and Notes:

• 2025 Record: 0-2 GPAC, 2-4-2 overall
  • the Defenders are winless in its last four matches (0-3-1)
    • the Defenders were shutout by Dakota Wesleyan last time out, 2-0, on Wednesday, Sept.24
    • the Tigers scored a goal each half, putting in the game-winner during the 10th minute
    • the teams combined for nine shots on-goal (5 - DWU, 4 - Dordt)
• Head Coach: Eric Bourdo (3rd year)
  • spent four years as ass't at Dordt before being named head coach (2019 - 2022)
  • guided the Defenders to a 9-7-4 record his first season in 2023, tied for the most wins in a season since 2014
  • Defenders have qualified for the GPAC tournament in each of the previous two seasons under Bourdo
    • lost in the GPAC semi's in 2023
• by the Numbers, 2025:
  • goals scored: 9 / 1.1 per match (T7th in GPAC)
    • total shots: 96 (6th in GPAC)
    • on-goal: 43
  • goals allowed: 11 / 1.38 per match (3rd in GPAC)
    • total shots allowed: 67
    • on-goal allowed: 32
• in 2024:
  • 4-3-3 (6th place in GPAC), 6-8-4 overall
    • lost to Northwestern in GPAC Quarterfinals
• return nine starters, 18 players from 2024
• the Defenders have allowed two goals or fewer in all but one match this season 
• statistical leaders:
  • Marco Laenen - 2 goals
  • Enzo Lira de Paula and Anton Forsch - 2 assists
  • Tate Hansen - 6 shots on-goal
  • Shad Jaeger - 14 saves
  • minutes played - Levi Jaeger: 694
    • Anton Forsch: 677
• returning all-conference players:
  • Marco Laenen (2023)
  • Nolan Karel (2024)
  • Tyson Reitsma (2x, 2022 and 2024)
  • Levi Jaeger (2024)

Scouting Report - Mount Marty Lancers

• 2025 Record: 0-1-1 GPAC, 2-2-1 overall
  • the Lancers played to a 2-2 draw against Midland last time out on Sept. 24
    • Mount Marty trailed 1-0 at the break but went ahead 2-1 with goals during the 55th and 70th minute
    • Midland netted the equalizer at the 89th minute
    • Mount Marty was outshot 28-7 by Midland
    • Juan Pablo Navia made eight saves
  • Mount Marty lost 13-0 to DWU in the match prior to Midland (Sept.20)
• Head Coach: Sheldon Spelman (1st year)
  • served as the assistant for Bethel (Tenn.)
  • also was a Graduate Assistant at Iowa Lakes Community College
• Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (11 teams)
  • picked 10th in the preseason poll
• in 2024: 1-9 (10th of 11 teams), 4-11-1 overall
  • did not qualify for conference tournament
• return four starters, 13 players
• return 12 of 19 goals scored, 5 of 11 assists
• by the numbers:
  • 8 goals, 1.6 / match (6th in GPAC)
  • 19 goals allowed, 3.8 / match (11th in GPAC)
• key returners:
  • Zachary Hebda (all-conference)
  • Oliver Danser  (all-conference)
  • Lukas Amaya
  • Sebastian Diaz
• Statistical Leaders for the 2025 season:
  • Zachary Hebda -  3 goals, 8 shots on-goal
  • Rex Chiles - 2 goals, 1 assist
  • Lukas Amaya - 3 assists
  • Juan Pablo Navia - 20 saves, 19 goals against