Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team continues its 2026 season with a pair of road matches over the next three days
• the Defenders begin their two-match road trip with a game against Culver-Stockton on Saturday, August 29 in Canton, Mo; start time on Poulton Stadium set for 5pm
• following a day off on Sunday, the Defenders will play a wrap-around match against William Penn on Monday afternoon, August 31; start time on Drost Field set for 3pm

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• Saturday's match vs Culver-Stockton can be viewed here: Watch vs Culver-Stockton
• Monday's match vs William Penn can be viewed here: Watch vs William Penn

All-Time vs Opponent:

• vs Culver-Stockton Wildcats:
  • Saturday's match will be the second in the rivalry between Dordt and Culver-Stockton
  • the teams played to a 2-2 tie last season in the only previous match-up
  • Karinna Tel netted two goals, one in each half, as the Defenders led 1-0 at intermission
  • Culver-Stockton responded with a pair of second half goals from Rian Moore and Mikayla Gioia to take a 2-1 lead
  • Tel scored the equalizer during the 84 minute as the match ended in a tie
• vs William Penn Statesmen:
  • Dordt defeated William Penn 5-1 in the team's only previous match (2024)
  • the match was played in Oskaloosa, Iowa
  • the Defenders led 4-0 after the first 45 minutes on two goals from Karinna Tel and one each by Joslyn Vander Molen and Jenna Roberts
  • Hayden Jennett netted the final goal for the Defenders
  • Joy Pagel scored the only goal for WPU

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
• Chitwood is joined on his staff by Mary Doell, Brandon Hansen and Sydney Schwartz, who all begin their first season as a coach within the Defenders program
• 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 leaders (based on 2025 stats):
  • Maria Zylstra - 6 goals, 10 assists
  • Jenna Roberts - 5 goals, 6 assists
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 3 goals, 5 assists
  • Kelly Waypa - 3 goals
  • Abi Green Martinez - 2 matches, 1 save
• returning all-conference players: 
  • Maria Zylstra - 2nd team
  • Lameese Batarseh - Honorable Mention
  • Jenna Roberts - Honorable Mention
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - Honorable Mention
• 2026 Record: 0-1
  • lost to Graceland 2-1 on August 26
  • after a scoreless first half, Maria Zylstra gave the Defenders a 1-0 lead with an early second half goal
  • Graceland answered with a pair of goals with the game-winner coming at the 69th minute
  • Dordt was outshot 17-10 (11-5 on-goal)
  • Lizzie Graham made eight saves in her first career start in goal 

Scouting Reports:

• Culver-Stockton Wildcats:
  • 1-1 record
    • lost to 24th-ranked Columbia 5-1 in their season opener on August 22
    • defeated Harris-Stowe (Mo.) 4-0 on August 26
    • both matches were played on the Wildcats home field, Poulton Stadium
  • part of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (15 teams)
  • picked to finish 11th in the HAAC preseason poll
    • Missouri Valley was picked first, followed by Central Methodist and MidAmerica Nazarene
  • three teams from the HAAC were recognized in the NAIA Preseason poll
    • Missouri Valley (#6), MidAmerica Nazarene (#15), Central Methodist (#18)
    • all three of the above teams qualified for the national tournament in 2025
  • Head Coach: Tyler Tomlinson - 16th year
    • hired prior to the 2011 season; 4th head coach in program history
    • all-time winningest coach in program history (126-106-24 overall record)
    • earned HAAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Wildcats to a 13-4-2 record in 2021, tied for the most wins in a single season
  • 2025 record: 4-8-1 (10th in HAAC), 7-9-2 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return 24 players, including seven starters
  • return 23 of 35 goals scored from last year 
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 2.5 goals / match
    • allowed 2.5 goals / match, 1 shutout
  • Leaders (stats from 2026 season in bold): 
    • Rian Moore (3rd team all-conference) - 3 goals, 1 assist, 9 goals in 2025
    • Lola Wiese - 2 goals
    • Lexi Clark - 2 assists, 4 goals, 5 assists in 2025
    • Marisa Schnurbusch - 12 saves, 1-1 record
• William Penn Statesmen:
  • 1-1 record
    • played two matches, both at home and both against teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference
    • defeated Northwestern 2-1 in season opener
    • lost to Briar Cliff 3-1 on August 25
  • part of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (15 teams)
  • picked to finish 14th in the HAAC preseason poll
    • Missouri Valley was picked first, followed by Central Methodist and MidAmerica Nazarene
  • three teams from the HAAC were recognized in the NAIA Preseason poll
    • Missouri Valley (#6), MidAmerica Nazarene (#15), Central Methodist (#18)
    • all three of the above teams qualified for the national tournament in 2025
  • Head Coach: Kaleb Preston - 3rd year
    • first year as head coach at WPU: 2024
    • overall record at WPU: 6-21-7
    • spent two seasons as an assistant for IU-Kokomo prior to WPU
      • helped lead IU-Kokomo to the national tournament 2x
  • 2025 record: 2-11 (13th in HAAC), 3-13-1 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return 11 players, including seven starters
  • return four of 13 goals scored from last year 
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 1.5 goals / match
    • allowed 2 goals / match
  • Leaders (stats from 2026 season in bold): 
    • Rakiya Morgan-King - 2 goals; 1 goal in 2025
    • Amerie Osorio - 1 goal
    • Eline Wijdicks - 1 assist
    • Emma Billings - 3 saves; 39 saves, 34 goals allowed (2.8 / match), 2-10-1 record with three shutouts