Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team continues its 2026 season with a home match against Morningside on Wednesday night
• this is the first of two home matches this week for the Defenders
• start time at the Defenders Soccer Complex is scheduled for 5pm
• Dordt is tied with Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan for seventh place in the current GPAC standings with a 1-3-3 record, 2-5-5 overall
• Morningside, the defending GPAC regular season champion, is in fourth place in the GPAC with a 4-1-1 record, 7-2-2 overall

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• watch the match live via the Dordt Media Network: Watch!

All-Time vs Morningside:

• the Defenders are 14-16 all-time against Morningside, dating back to the first match played in 2001
• Dordt has lost two straight matches in the rivalry
• last year: lost 3-1 in Sioux City
  • tied 1-1 at the half
  • Karinna Tel scored the Defenders goal during the 16th minute
  • Morningside scored three unaswered goals to close out the match
    • Trinay Garcia, Keyara Harmon and Tuva Hammarlund netted the goals for the Mustangs
  • Dordt was outshot 17-12, 8-6 on-goal
• Dordt is 3-2 over its last five matches against Morningside
• Dordt's last win: 3-2 in 2023, GPAC Quarterfinal
• last 10 matches: 4-6 against Mside
• Dordt has been shutout 9x
• Dordt has shutout Mside 5x

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach: Payton Chitwood (2nd year)
  • hired in March of 2025 
  • served as the head coach for Warner University (Fla.) from 2017-24
  • was an assistant coach for Trinity International (Ill.) from 2011-16
• picked fourth of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
• Dordt finished the 2025 season with an 11-6-3 overall record
  • the Defenders lost to Hastings (Neb.) 1-0 in the GPAC Championship match, one win shy of qualifying for the NAIA National Championship
  • the Defenders went 7-2-2 and finished tied with Hastings (Neb.) for third place in the GPAC
  • 14 players who started at least one match return, 20 total returners
  • return 22 of 49 goals scored
• this is the 31st season of Defender women's soccer (began in 1996)
• returning all-conference players: 
  • Maria Zylstra - 2nd team
  • Lameese Batarseh - Honorable Mention
  • Jenna Roberts - Honorable Mention
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - Honorable Mention
  • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention (2024 season)
• 2026 Record: 1-3-3 (T7th GPAC), 2-5-5
  • last time out: tied Doane 1-1 on Oct.10
    • Doane scored first on a PK at the 20th minute
    • the Defenders tied the score with a late goal from Ashlyn Marjama at the 79th minute
    • Dordt was outshot 14-12 by Doane but held the edge 7-6 with shot on-goal
    • Emerson Skuodas made five saves in her first career start
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 22 (1.8 / match - T7th in GPAC)
  • goals given up: 26 (2.2 / match - 9th in GPAC)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 7 goals (T5th), 4 assists (10th), 24 shots on-goal (3rd in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 6 goals (T7th), 6 assists (4th), 15 shots on-goal
  • Jenna Roberts - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Lizzie Graham - 19 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Morningside Mustangs:
  • 2026 Record: 4-1-1 (4th in GPAC), 7-2-2 overall 
    • won three straight
    • last time out: def. College of Saint Mary 1-0 on Oct.10 
      • scoreless at the half
      • game-winner scored by Ida Carlsson at the 76th minute
      • outshot CSM 13-8, 7-4 on-goal
      • Kyla Syverson and Tanyn Anderson combined for four saves and the shutout
    • have also defeated Midland (5-2) and Norhtwestern (2-0) during current win streak
  • picked 2nd of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
  • Head Coach: Tom Maxon (27th year)
    • 2000 - started Morningside's program
    • 4x National Qualifier (2025, 2013, 2007, 2006)
    • 3x GPAC Coach of the Year
  • 2025 record: 8-1-2 (1st in GPAC), 11-1-6 overall
    • GPAC regular season champion
    • lost to Mount Marty by PK's in GPAC Quarterfinals
    • ended season with a loss to Southern Oregon in the NAIA Opening Round by PK's
  • return five starters, 15 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 24 goals, 2.2 / match (5th in GPAC)
    • allowed 16 goals, 1.4 / match (5th in GPAC)
  • Leaders (2026 season stats): 
    • Fenna Van Mill - 7 goals (T5th in GPAC), 2 assists
    • Ida Carlsson - 6 goals (T7th in GPAC), 3 assists
    • Tuva Hammarlund (2x all-conference) - 3 goals, 4 assists
    • Trinay Garcia (all-conference) - 2 goals, 5 assists
    • Kyla Syverson - 1.7 goals against, 35 saves