Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team continues its 2026 season with a mid-week road match against Waldorf
• Wednesday's start time on Bolstorff Field in Forest City, Iowa is set for 5pm
• Dordt is 0-1 in the GPAC, 1-3-2 overall; Waldorf is 0-1 in the GPAC, 2-4 overall

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• watch the match live via the Waldorf webcast: Watch! 

All-Time vs Waldorf:

• Wednesday's match will be the 11th all-time in the rivalry between the two programs
• Dordt leads the series 9-0-1 and has won six straight
• last year, Dordt earned a 7-0 win in a match played in Sioux Center
• Dordt has shutout Waldorf in each of the last two matches played in 2025 and 2024
• the teams played to a 3-3 tie in 2012
• first match: played in 2009

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
• 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 all-conference players: 
  • Maria Zylstra - 2nd team
  • Lameese Batarseh - Honorable Mention
  • Jenna Roberts - Honorable Mention
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - Honorable Mention
  • Paige Miller - Honorable Mention (2024 season)
• 2026 Record: 0-1 (GPAC), 1-3-2
  • last time out: lost its GPAC opener to Concordia 3-1 on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Sioux Center
    • Concordia scored a pair of first half goals during the 3rd and 36th minutes
    • the Bulldogs netted their third goal at the 86th minute to go up 3-0
    • Dordt scored late with a goal from Lexi Terpstra, her first in a Defenders uniform
    • Dordt was outshot 14-7, 9-3 with shots on-goal
    • Lizzie Graham made five saves
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 8 (1.3 / match - 10th in GPAC)
  • goals given up: 13 (2.2 / match - 8th in GPAC)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 3 goals (T6th in GPAC), 2 assists, 11 shots on-goal
  • Jenna Roberts - 2 goals
  • Maria Zylstra - 1 goal, 2 assists, 6 shots on-goal
  • Faith Mondeel - 1 goal, 5 shots on-goal
  • Lizzie Graham - 19 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Waldorf Warriors:
  • 2026 Record: 0-1 (GPAC), 2-4 overall
    • last time out: lost to Mount Marty 5-0 in the GPAC opener for both teams  
      • outshot 16-2 (on-goal)
      • trailed 2-0 at halftime, allowed three goals in the second half
      • Sara Esquivel and Sakino Momoi both had one shot on-goal
      • Sofia Pazianas made nine saves in the full 90 minutes
    • earned wins over Cornell and Faith Baptist College to start season
    • have lost four straight since
  • picked 12th of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
  • Head Coach: Emmanuel Awotula - 1st year
    • hired in June of 2026
    • previous head coaching stops at Wheeling University, Lincoln, Oakland City and Carolina
  • 2025 record: 0-11 (12th in GPAC), 2-14-1 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
  • return 8 players, 7 starters
  • return 2 of 15 goals scored
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 11 goals, 1.8 / match (7th in GPAC)
    • allowed 16 goals, 2.7 / match (11th in GPAC)
  • Leaders (2026 season stats): 
    • Payton Whitt (all-conference)
    • Kait Gaspari - 3 goals (T6th in GPAC), 3 assists (T3rd in GPAC)
    • Madison Morales - 3 goals (T6th in GPAC), 1 assist
    • Sakino Momoi - 2 goals, 1 assist
    • Sofia Pazianas - 27 saves, 2.4 goals against / match