Game Time: 

• Conference play is here for the Dordt University men's soccer team as the Defenders open GPAC play at home this weekend against Concordia
• start time for the match on Saturday, Sept.19 is set for 4:15pm
• Dordt is 4-2-1 this season; Concordia is 2-4

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 Concordia:

• Saturday's match will be the 44th all-time in the rivalry between Dordt and Concordia
• the teams first played during the 1999 season
• Dordt lost to Concordia last year 2-0 in a match played in Seward, Neb.
  • the match was scoreless at the half
  • Concordia netted a pair of second half goals during the 50th and 67th minutes
  • both teams totaled five shots on-goal
• Dordt is 1-3-1 in its last five matches against Concordia, 2-7-1 in its last 10 vs the Bulldogs
• last win for the Defenders against Concordia:
  • 2023: 3-0 on goals by Kaleb Lee, Marco Laenen and Robin Grewohl
• the teams played to a 1-1 tie in 2024

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: 4-2-1
  • the Defenders are off to their best start to a season since the 2011 season
  • last time out:
    • lost 1-0 to Mid-America Christian (Okla.), a team earning votes in the latest coaches' poll, on Sept.12
      • was scoreless at the half
      • the Evangels netted the game-winner at the 50th minute
      • Dordt was outshot 12-11 (9-8 on-goal)
      • Vincent Croney led the Defenders with two shots on-goal
      • Alvaro Boned made five saves
  • prior to the loss against MACU, Dordt had won three straight matches, all by shutout
  • Martin earned GPAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept.8, first Defenders player to earn the honor since 2023 (week 9 - Mitchell Dryden)
• 2026, By the Numbers:
  • 17 goals scored (2.4 / match)
  • 8 goals allowed (1.1 / match)
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Pablo Martin - 5 goals, 4 assists, 14pts, 15 shots on-goal
  • Boston Gerdes - 2 goals, 2 assists, 7 shots on-goal
  • Joseba Zabala - 3 goals, 7 shots on-goal
  • Ike D'Silva - 2 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots on-goal
  • Alvaro Boned - 1.1 goals vs (4th in GPAC), 26 saves (tied for 2nd in GPAC)

Scouting Reports:

• Concordia Bulldogs:
  • 2026: 2-4 record
    • played three ranked teams (0-3 record):
      • lost 5-0 to (RV) Mid-America Christian
      • lost 2-0 to #9 William Penn 
      • lost 3-1 to #21 Grand View
  • last time out: defeated York 3-2 on Sept.12
    • trailed 1-0 after the 12th minute; scored three unanswered goals by three different players to go up 3-1 with 20 minutes left
    • outshot by York 22-6 (8-4 on-goal)
    • Cortez Wiebush made six saves
  • picked first in the GPAC preseason poll
    • earned four of the 11 possible 1st place votes and 91 points
  • defending GPAC Champion and 2025 NAIA postseason qualifier; only GPAC team in the national field
  • Head Coach: Bernie Ochoa - 1st year
    • hired in March of 2026 to take over the program
    • previously as a high school coach in California for 17 years (2003-19)
    • also a club coach
    • played at Concordia, named 2000 GPAC Player of the Year and 3x all-conference
  • last year (2025): 7-3 (3rd), 12-9-1 overall
    • def. Morningside 2-1 in the GPAC Championship
    • qualified for the national tournament where they defeated Eastern Oregon in PK's
    • lost to MidAmerica Nazarene 3-0 in the 2nd round
  • return seven starters, 14 players
  • return 16 of 34 goals scored from last year
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 7 goals: 1.2 goals / match
    • allowed 14 goals: 2.3 / match
  • Key Returners / Players:
    • William Preston - 1 goal, 1 assist
    • Hugo Garrote (2nd team all-conference) 1 goal
    • Sebastian Montino - 1 goal, 6 shots on-goal
    • Michael Wyville (all-conference) 
    • Florian Quast - 18 saves, 2.0 goals allowed / match