Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team will head on the road this weekend for a GPAC match against College of Saint Mary (Neb.)
• Saturday's start time has been moved up to 1pm at Heritage Park
• both teams are 1-1 in the conference; Dordt is 2-3-2 overall while CSM is 4-3

How to Follow:

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

All-Time vs College of Saint Mary:

• Saturday's match will be the 24th played between the two programs
• the rivalry began with the first match played in 1999
• Dordt is 9-13-1 all-time against CSM but has won four straight
• the Defenders earned a 1-0 win last year in Sioux Center
  • Joslyn Vander Molen scored the game-winner during the 37th minute
  • Dordt outshot the Flames 18-10 (14-6 on-goal)

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: 1-1 (GPAC), 2-3-2
  • last time out: defeated Waldorf 8-0 on Wednesday night, Sept.23
    • Maria Zylstra netted four goals and Joslyn Vander Molen contributed two goals
    • Jenna Roberts scored a goal and dished out an assist while Grace Engbrecht closed out the scoring off an assist by Audrey Kingery
    • Dordt held a 35-6 shots advantage (28-4 on-goal)
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 16 (2.3 / match)
  • goals given up: 13 (1.9 / match)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 5 goals, 2 assists, 16 shots on-goal
  • Maria Zylstra - 5 goals, 2 assists, 11 shots on-goal
  • Jenna Roberts - 3 goals, 1 assist
  • Lizzie Graham - 19 saves
  • Abi Green Martinez - 11 saves

Scouting Reports:

• College of Saint Mary Flames:
  • 2026 Record: 1-1 (GPAC), 4-3 overall
    • last time out: lost to Mount Marty 4-2 on Sept.23  
      • tied 2-2 at the half
      • outshot by Mount Marty 13-5
      • Bella Olson and Makena Kramer scored goals for the Flames
      • Jenna Brown made eight saves
  • picked 8th of 12 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
  • Head Coach: Jamison Parkhill - 3rd year
    • previously an assistant for Iowa Western Community College for three years
    • won back-to-back national titles at Iowa Western
    • played for Morningside College
  • 2025 record: 5-5-1 (7th in GPAC), 6-12-1 overall
    • lost to Concordia in the GPAC Quarterfinals 3-0
  • return 8 starters, 13 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 18 goals, 2.6 / match 
    • allowed 18 goals, 2.6 / match
  • Leaders (2026 season stats): 
    • Makena Kramer - 4 goals
    • Ella Klusman (all-conference in 2025) - 3 goals, 1 assist
    • Jimena Estrada Gomez (all-conference in 2025) - 2 goals, 1 assist
    • Emma Gallagher - 1 goal, 2 assists
    • Jenna Brown - GPAC Defensive Player of the Week 2x this season; 41 saves