Game Time: 

• the Dordt University men's soccer team returns home for a pair of matches this week, beginning with a Wednesday night match-up against Dakota Wesleyan
• start time on Wednesday, Sept.30 at the Defenders Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7:15pm
• both teams are tied for sixth place in the current GPAC standings with a 1-1 record; Dordt is 5-4-1 overall and DWU is 2-3-1

How to Follow:

• live stats for all matches can be found at this link: Live Stats
• watch the match live, via the Dordt Media Network: Watch 

All-Time vs Dakota Wesleyan:

• Dordt leads the all-time series against DWU 11-8-2, dating back to the initial match played during the 2006 season
• the Defenders have lost two straight against DWU
• last year, Dordt was shutout by DWU 2-0 in a match played in Mitchell, S.D.
  • the Tigers outshot the Defenders 12-11 (5-4 on-goal)
  • Tate Hansen led the Defenders with two shots on-goal
  • Evan Bolster and Tristin Hendricks scored goals for the Tigers
• Dordt's last win vs DWU: 2-0 in 2023
• Dordt's last home win vs DWU: 6-1 in 2022

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: 1-1 (T6th in GPAC), 5-4-1
  • Dordt went 1-1 last week
  • last time out:
    • lost to Bellevue 5-1 on Saturday in the final non-conference match of the regular season for the Defenders
    • down 1-0 at half, Ike D'Silva scored during the 49th minute off an assist from Pablo Martin
    • the Bruins scored the game-winner at the 59th minute and added three late goals
    • Dordt was outshot 17-8, 12-3 on-goal
  • Pablo 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:
  • 24 goals scored (2.4 / match) - 2nd in the GPAC
  • 16 goals allowed (1.6 / match) - 3rd in the GPAC
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Pablo Martin - 5 goals (T4th in GPAC), 6 assists (1st in GPAC), 16pts (3rd in GPAC), 19 shots on-goal (2nd in GPAC)
  • Ike D'Silva - 5 goals (T4th in GPAC), 1 assist, 9 shots on-goal
  • Boston Gerdes - 4 goals (T7th in GPAC), 2 assists, 10 shots on-goal (5th in GPAC)
  • Joseba Zabala - 3 goals, 9 shots on-goal (9th in GPAC)
  • Alvaro Boned - 1.7 goals vs (4th in GPAC), 39 saves (1st in GPAC)

Scouting Reports:

• Dakota Wesleyan Tigers:
  • 2026: 1-1 (GPAC), 2-3-1 overall
    • went 1-1 last week with both matches in GPAC play
    • def. Northwestern 2-0 on Sept.23
    • lost to Doane 1-0 last time out (Sept.26)
      • outshot by Doane 8-2 on-goal, 15-10 overall
      • Doane scored the game-winner at the 77th minute
      • Carter Hanson made seven saves
  • Head Coach: Nicolas Reinhard - 5th year
    • named head coach in 2022
    • guided DWU to a .500 record in 2024, the first time in 10 years
    • previously served as an assistant coach for Trevaca Nazarene (Tenn.)
    • played for Trevaca Nazarene
  • last year (2025): 6-4 (5th), 8-11 overall
    • lost to Morningside 3-2 in GPAC quarterfinals
  • picked 6th in GPAC preseason poll
  • return three starters, 10 players
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 7 goals: 1.1 goals / match
    • allowed 8 goals: 1.3 / match
  • Key Players:
    • Evan Bolster (1st team all-conference) - 2 goals
    • Maximillian Nolle - 1 goal, 1 assist
    • Luis Waeschle (2x all-conference) - 1 assist
    • Carter Hanson - 16 saves, 1.75 goals against