Game Time: 

• the Dordt University men's soccer team concludes its regular season with a road match against Northwestern College on Wednesday night
• start time on Wednesday, Oct.28 is set for 7:15pm at the Northwestern Soccer Complex
• the Defenders currently are in second place in the GPAC with 19 points and a 6-2-1 conference record, 10-5-2 overall
• Northwestern is in sixth place in the current GPAC standings with 14 points (4-3-2 in the GPAC), 9-3-3 overall

How to Follow:

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

All-Time vs Northwestern:

• Dordt is 13-20-2 all-time against Northwestern, dating back to the 1995 season
• the Defenders are 0-8-2 in their last 10 matches against NW
  • tied 1-1 in 2024 and played to a scoreless tie in 2022
• Dordt's last win vs NW:
  • 2014 (2-1)
• last year: Dordt lost 3-1
  • the Defenders trailed 1-0 at the half and allowed an early second half goal to fall behind 2-0
  • Pablo Martin cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal at the 57th minute
  • NW added a late insurance goal (80th minute)
  • Dordt outshot Northwestern 12-3, 7-3

Defenders News and Notes:

• Head Coach (Interim): Tim Lee (1st year)
  • Lee is joined on staff by Michael Catanzarite (1st year), David Lee (5th year), Stevie Hodes (1st year) and Brandon Hansen (1st year)
• GPAC Preseason Poll:
  • picked eighth of 11 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
• Dordt finished the 2025 season with a 5-6-6 overall record
• the Defenders went 2-4-4 and finished seventh among 11 teams in conference play
• 10 players who started at least one match return, 13 total returners
• this is the 49th season of Defender men's soccer (began in 1978)
• 2026 Record: 6-2-1 (2nd in GPAC), 10-5-2; 19pts
  • the Defenders are unbeaten in their last six matches, their longest streak since 2011
  • Dordt is eight points in back of Concordia with one match left in the regular season
  • the Defenders hold a 2-point lead over Morningside (Mustangs play Waldorf on Wednesday night)
  • last time out:
    • tied Midland 1-1 on Saturday night, Oct.24
    • scoreless until the 53rd minute, Joseba Zabala netted the first goal on an assist from Joao Locatelli
    • Midland tied the match with one second left on a goal by Kobe Parker
    • Dordt held a 5-4 shots on-goal advantage but was outshot 14-10 in total shots
    • Sean Christensen made three saves
  • Alvaro Boned was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (Oct.12, 19)
  • Jayden Donald was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the week (Oct.19)
  • Pablo Martin earned GPAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept.8, first Defenders player to earn the honor since 2023 (week 9 - Mitchell Dryden)
• 2026, By the Numbers:
  • 40 goals scored (2.4 / match) - 2nd in the GPAC
  • 24 goals allowed (1.5 / match) - 4th in the GPAC
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Pablo Martin - 8 goals (6th in GPAC), 7 assists (2nd in GPAC), 23pts, 32 shots on-goal (1st in GPAC)
  • Ike D'Silva - 5 goals, 2 assists, 15 shots on-goal
  • Joseba Zabala - 7 goals (9th), 1 assist
  • Jayden Donald - 3 goals, 8 assists (1st)
  • Tate Hansen - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Alvaro Boned - 1.53 goals vs (4th in GPAC), 70 saves (1st in GPAC), 6 shutouts

Scouting Reports:

• Northwestern College:
  • 2026: 4-3-2: 14pts (6th in GPAC), 9-3-3 overall
    • last time out: lost to Concordia 3-0 on Oct.24
      • outshot 17-8 overall, 9-3 on-goal
      • Edoardo Alessandrini made six saves
  • Head Coach: Dan Swier (19th year)
    • 1st year in 2008
    • awarded 2025 GPAC Coach of the Year after leading the Red Raiders to the regular season title
    • all-time winningest coach and longest tenured coach in program history
    • guided NWC to 14 straight GPAC postseason tournaments
    • 3 GPAC titles (2025, 2023, 2021)
  • last year (2025): 9-0-1 (1st), 14-1-3 overall
    • tied Mount Marty 0-0 in GPAC Quarterfinals, lost in PK's
  • picked 2nd in GPAC preseason poll
  • return seven starters, 16 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 35 goals: 2.3 goals / match (3rd in GPAC)
    • allowed 15 goals: 1.1 / match (1st in GPAC)
  • Key Players:
    • Rasmus Morrison - 9 goals (3rd), 3 assists, 21pts (4th)
    • Emerson Brazones - 8 goals (6th), 4 assists, 20pts (7th)
    • Gorka Ilundaine (1st team all-conference) - 4 goals, 1 assist
    • Juan Miranda (all-conference) - 4 assists
    • Edoardo Alessandrini - 55 saves (6th)