Game Time: 

• the Dordt University men's soccer team, coming off back-to-back home matches, will head on the road for a mid-week contest against Briar Cliff
• start time on Faber Field in Sioux City, Iowa, is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct.7 at 3:30pm
• the Defenders, fresh off a 4-0 win against Mount Marty on Saturday, are tied with Doane for sixth place in the GPAC with a 2-2 record, 6-5-1 overall
• Briar Cliff is currently in eighth place in the GPAC with a 1-2-1 record, 5-5-1 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 Briar Cliff:

• Dordt is 20-22-3 all-time in the rivalry against Briar Cliff
• first match played: 1978
• the Defenders are 1-2-2 in the last five against BCU
• Dordt is 1-7-2 in the last 10 matches against BCU
• Dordt is 11-16-3 all-time on the road against BCU
• last year: 1-1 draw
  • Joseba Zabala put Dordt in front with a goal at the 26th minute
  • BCU scored the tying goal at the 67th minute (Gabriel Hernandez Le)
  • Dordt outshot BCU 19-12, 10-8 on-goal
  • Zabala and Pablo Martin both had four shots on-goal
• Dordt's last win vs BCU: 2-0 in 2024, a win that snapped a nine-match winless streak against BCU (0-8-1)
• Dordt has been shutout 13x in the rivalry
• the Defenders have shutout BCU eight times

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: 2-2 (T6th in GPAC), 6-5-1
  • last time out:
    • snapped a two-match losing streak with a 4-0 win against Mount Marty on Saturday, Oct.3
    • Tate Hansen put the Defenders in front for good with a goal at the 20th minute
    • Tomas Estrada netted a goal at the 71st minute for a 2-0 lead
    • Hansen scored again (79th minute) and Jayden Donald finished off the scoring at the 80th minute
    • Dordt accounted for a season-high 31 shots, 19 on-goal
  • 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:
  • 29 goals scored (2.5 / match) - 2nd in the GPAC
  • 20 goals allowed (1.7 / match) - 4th in the GPAC
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Pablo Martin - 5 goals (T5th in GPAC), 7 assists (1st in GPAC), 17pts, 26 shots on-goal (1st in GPAC)
  • Ike D'Silva - 5 goals (T5th in GPAC), 1 assist, 12 shots on-goal
  • Boston Gerdes - 4 goals, 2 assists, 10 shots on-goal
  • Tate Hansen - 4 goals
  • Alvaro Boned - 2 goals vs (4th in GPAC), 51 saves (2nd in GPAC)

Scouting Reports:

• Briar Cliff Chargers:
  • 2026: 1-2-1 (8th GPAC), 5-5-1 overall
    • last time out: lost to Concordia 4-0 on Oct.3
      • allowed two goals each half 
      • outshot by Concordia 15-14, 7-5 on-goal
      • Lucas Attanasio made one save and allowed three goals in 84 minutes
  • Head Coach: Luis de la Fuente - 2nd year
    • named head coach in 2025 and Director of Soccer in 2026
    • played for and graduated from Tusculum University (NCAA D-II)
    • joined BCU coaching staff as grad assistant in 2023
  • last year (2025): 5-3-2 (6th), 9-7-3 overall
    • def. Midland 3-2 in GPAC quarterfinals
    • lost to Concordia 3-2 in GPAC semifinals
  • picked 5th in GPAC preseason poll
  • return five starters, 10 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 19 goals: 1.7 goals / match (7th in GPAC)
    • allowed 24 goals: 2.2 / match (8th in GPAC)
  • Key Players:
    • Ignacio Barrios - 4 goals, 2 assists
    • Mario Granjo - 3 goals, 2 assists
    • Angelos Arapi (1st team all-conference, GPAC Newcomer of the Year) -  2 goals, 1 assist
    • Alejandro Illan (all-conference) - 1 goal, 2 assists
    • Lucas Attanasio - 1.7 goals against / 33 saves