Box Score The Dordt University men's soccer team played Carroll (Mont.) to a 3-3 draw in the season opener for both teams played tonight on the Nelson Stadium turf in Helena, Montana.
Ike D'Silva netted the equalizer during the 63rd minute as the junior received a pass from
Pablo Martin and beat Saints goalkeeper Noah Jordan with a shot from 25-yards out.
Defenders goalkeeper
Alvaro Boned made a great save around the 80th minute to secure the draw.
Both teams scored in the opening minute with Dordt taking a 1-0 lead when
Joseba Zabala one-timed a cross by
Boston Gerdes from the left corner just 14 seconds into the match. The goal is believed to be the quickest goal scored in a match by the Defenders in their history.
Carroll responded with its first goal moments later as Pedro Teixeira drove a shot in the back of the net off an assist from Enrico Paparelii at the 39 second mark. Later in the half, during the 20th minute, the host Saints went ahead 2-1 on a goal from returning all-conference forward Felix Billard.
Dordt came back to tie the match (2-2) right before the half on a converted set-piece by
Pablo Martin after a Saints foul just outside the penalty area.
The score remained tied until the 58th minute when Pedro Rivera took advantage of a congested area right in front of the goal to get his shot past Defenders goalie Boned.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt totaled 13 shots, eight on goal, while Carroll accounted for 14 shots, 10 on goal
- Gerdes recorded his first career assist in a Defender uniform
- Alvaro Boned (0-0-1) made seven saves
- 18 Defenders saw the field, led by Boned, Julian Janssen and Jayden Donald, who played all 90 minutes
- Noah Jordan (0-0-1) stopped four Defenders shots for Carroll
Notes:
- both teams were making their 2026 season debut
- Carroll received votes in the NAIA preseason poll released earlier this week
- this was the first ever match played between the two teams
- the Defenders opened the season with a draw for the third time in the last five seasons
- 2024 vs William Woods: 2-2
- 2022 vs Colorado Christian: 1-1
- Zabala's goal just 14 seconds into the match is believed to be the quickest goal scored by the Defenders in a match in their history
- Blake Hansen netted a goal with 26 seconds gone by in a match vs Doane in 2023
- Dordt will return to the pitch on Saturday against Providence following a day off on Friday
