The Dordt University women's soccer team released its schedule for the upcoming 2026 season.
The Defenders 2026 slate features six matches in non-conference play and the standard 11-matches in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action. The Defenders reported to camp on Wednesday, August 5 and will begin the season at home in three weeks (Aug.26) against Graceland.
Notes:
- this is the Defenders second season under Head Coach Payton Chitwood, who is joined by assistant coaches Mary Doell (1st year) and Maddie Stacy (2nd year).
- Chitwood is the sixth different head coach in the 31-year history of the program
- Dordt's women's soccer program began in 1996
- Dordt finished the 2025 season with an 11-6-3 overall record, falling to Hastings (Neb.) 1-0 in the GPAC Championship match and 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
- Morningside won the conference regular season title with an 8-1-2 record
- Concordia finished second (7-1-3)
- Morningside and Hastings earned spots in the NAIA National Championship tournament
- Chitwood returns 20 players from the 2025 varsity squad, 14 who started at least one match
- four players, Maria Zylstra (2nd team), Lameese Batarseh (HM), Jenna Roberts (HM) and Joslyn Terpstra (HM), return after earning all-conference honors last year
- the Defenders will play six non-conference matches, three at home and three on the road
- Dordt's first four opponents are from the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Graceland, Culver-Stockton, William Penn and Mount Mercy)
- the combined 2025 record of the Defenders non-conference opponents is 33-59-12
- Dordt will play 11 GPAC matches, five at home and six on the road
- the Defenders begin conference play at home against Concordia on Sept.19
- Dordt will play both Morningside and Hastings (the GPAC champions from 2025) at home
- combined 2025 record of all 17 opponents: 115-147-46 (44% win)
- the GPAC Tournament will be on Nov. 3, 7 and 11
- the 43rd Annual NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship will be held at the Jack Allen Sports Complex in Decatur, Ala. on Nov.30 - Dec.7
- the NAIA First and Second Rounds will be at host sites on Nov.19-21
