Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team heads to Sioux City, Iowa, for a mid-week, afternoon match against Briar Cliff
• start time on Wednesday, Oct.7 on Faber Field is scheduled for 1pm
• Dordt is tied with Dakota Wesleyan for seventh place in the current GPAC standings with a 1-2-2 record, 2-4-4 overall
• Briar Cliff is tied with Doane for fourth place in the current GPAC standings with a 1-2-1 league record, 5-3-1 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 and Briar Cliff will be playing for the 35th time in the rivalry
• the Defenders lead the all-time series 21-12-2, dating back to the first match played in 1996
• Dordt is 1-3-1 over its last five matches against BCU
• the Defenders are 1-8-1 in their last 10 against BCU
• Dordt is 9-6-2 all-time on the road against the Chargers
• last year: 3-0 win for Dordt
  • Maria Zylstra scored two goals, the first on a penalty kick
  • Vicky Granda added a third goal during the 40th minute, assisted by Joslyn Vander Molen
  • Briar Cliff outshot the Defenders 14-10 (7-5 on goal)
• Dordt has shutout BCU 13x
• Dordt has been shutout by BCU 4x

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: 1-2-2 (T7th GPAC), 2-4-4
  • last time out: lost to Mount Marty 4-1 on Saturday, Oct. 3
    • led 1-0 after a goal from Jenna Roberts in the first three minutes
    • Mount Marty took the lead for good with a pair of goals (18th and 27th minutes)
    • the Lancers added two more goals in the second half
    • Dordt was outshot 13-9 (12-4 on-goal)
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 20 (2 / match - 7th in GPAC)
  • goals given up: 20 (2 / match - 8th in GPAC)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 6 goals (T5th), 4 assists (T7th), 23 shots on-goal (T2nd in GPAC)
  • Maria Zylstra - 6 goals (T5th), 4 assists (T7th), 15 shots on-goal
  • Jenna Roberts - 4 goals, 1 assist
  • Lizzie Graham - 19 saves
  • Abi Green Martinez - 20 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Briar Cliff Chargers:
  • 2026 Record: 1-2-1 (T4th), 5-3-1 overall
    • last time out: lost to unbeaten Concordia 2-0 on Oct.3 
      • scoreless at the half
      • Concordia scored goals during the 49th and 82nd minutes
      • BCU was outshot 19-7 (13-3 on-goal)
      • Caitlin Anderholm made eight saves in the full 90 minutes
  • picked 10th of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
  • Head Coach: Liam Brandso - 1st year
    • 1st year as the Associate Head Coach
    • previously served as the assistant coach for both men's and women's programs
    • served as an assistant for Midland
    • played, earned all-conference honors at Midland
  • 2025 record: 3-7-1 (10th in GPAC), 5-12-1 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return six starters, eight players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 19 goals, 2.1 / match (5th in GPAC)
    • allowed 12 goals, 1.3 / match (5th in GPAC)
  • Leaders (2026 season stats): 
    • Angelina Saade  - 7 goals (2nd in GPAC), 3 assists, 17pts (2nd in GPAC)
    • Therese Molin - 5 goals (T8th in GPAC), 1 assist
    • Sierra Brooks - 1 goal, 3 assists
    • Libby Fraser - 2 goals
    • Caitlin Anderholm -  52 saves, 1.4 goals vs