Game Time: 

• the Dordt University men's soccer team continues its home stand with a weekend match against Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
• start time on Saturday, Sept.12 at the Defenders Soccer Complex is scheduled for 1pm
• the Defenders have won three straight matches and is 4-1-1 this season; Mid-America Christian is 6-1

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• watch all of the Defenders home matches on the Dordt Media Network: Watch!

All-Time vs Opponent:

• Saturday's match will be the first between the two institutions

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: 4-1-1
  • the Defenders are off to their best start to a season since 2011
  • Dordt has won three straight and all by shutout
    • first 3-match win streak since 2024
  • last time out:
    • earned two wins last weekend, both at home, against Avila and Viterbo
    • Defenders scored seven goals vs Avila, most scored since the 2023 season
    • Alvaro Boned earned the shutouts
    • Pablo Martin recorded a hat-trick against Avila, first since the 2023 season
  • Martin earned GPAC Offensive Player of the Week, first Defenders player to earn the honor since 2023 (week 9 - Mitchell Dryden)
• 2026, By the Numbers:
  • 17 goals scored (2.8 / match)
  • 7 goals allowed (1.2 / match)
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Pablo Martin - 5 goals (T1st in GPAC), 4 assists (9th in NAIA), 14pts (1st in GPAC, 7th in NAIA)
  • Boston Gerdes - 2 goals, 2 assists
  • Joseba Zabala - 3 goals (4th in GPAC)
  • Ike D'Silva - 2 goals, 1 assist, 12 shots
  • Alvaro Boned - 1.2 goals vs (4th in GPAC), 21 saves (tied for 2nd in GPAC)

Scouting Reports:

• (RV) Mid-America Christian Evangels:
  • 2026: 6-1 record
    • opened the season with six consecutive wins, five by shutout
    • suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday night at Northwestern, 2-0
      • outshot NW 18-8 (9-4 on-goal)
      • played scoreless in first half; NW netted two goals in the second half (58th and 81st minute)
      • Leonardo Leitao led MACU with four shots on-goal
      • Julien Huertas (6-1) made two saves and earned his first loss
      • MACU played with an 11-10 advantage for the final 23 minutes and with an 11-9 advantage over the final two minutes
  • member of the Sooner Athletic Conference (10 teams)
  • picked to finish 2nd of 10 teams in the SAC preseason poll
    • Oklahoma City, the defending regular season and postseason champion, was picked first
  • two teams from the SAC qualified for the national tournament in 2025: Oklahoma City and John Brown
  • Head Coach: James Roberson - 1st year
    • elevated to Head Coach in March of 2026
    • served as the team's assistant since 2019 (7 years)
    • helped lead the Evangels to an 80% win percentage during that time with five national tournament appearances
  • last year (2025): 5-2-2 (3rd), 9-9-4 overall
    • lost in conference semifinals
    • scored 33 goals (1.5 / match); allowed 30 (1.4 / match)
  • return five starters, 7 players
  • return 11 of 33 goals scored from last year
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 14 goals: 2 goals / match
    • allowed 3 goals: .43 / match
  • Key Returners / Players:
    • Filliph Kamfjord - 3 goals, 1 assist, 7pts; 16 shots, 11 on-goal
    • Vito Callaci - 2 goals, 12 shots
    • Haruya Higuchi (1st team all-conference) - 1 goal, 1 assist, 11 shots, 9 on-goal
    • Jimmy Cabrera (2nd team all-conference) - 3 assists
    • Julian Huertas - 3 goals allowed (.4 / match), 8 saves