Game Time: 

• the Dordt University men's soccer continues its long homestand with a pair of matches this weekend at the Defenders Soccer Complex
• on Friday night (Sept.4), the Defenders will play Avila (Mo.) under the lights beginning at 7:15pm
• Dordt will then host Viterbo (Wis.) on Saturday afternoon at 2:15pm

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 Opponents:

• vs Avila:
  • Friday's match will be the sixth all-time in the rivalry between the Defenders and Avila
  • Dordt holds a 3-1-1 record against the Eagles and has won two straight matches
  • the team's last played in 2023 where Dordt earned a 2-1 win in Kansas City, Mo.
  • the first match played between the teams was in 1997 and ended in a 1-1 draw
• vs Viterbo:
  • Saturday's match against Viterbo will be the fifth all-time in the rivalry
  • Dordt is 2-2 all-time against the V-Hawks
  • the Defenders have won two straight in the rivalry, earning 5-0 wins in 2019 and 2016
  • the rivalry began in 1997

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: 2-1-1
  • Dordt earned its biggest win of the season last time out as they defeated Saint Mary (Kan.) 3-0
    • tied at the half, Dordt netted three goals over the final 45 minutes
    • Julian Janssen put in the game-winner during the 46th minute, assisted by Pablo Martin
    • Joseba Zabala scored the other two goals, both assisted by Martin
    • Alvaro Boned (2-1-1) picked up his first career shutout as a Defender and made three saves
• 2026, By the Numbers:
  • 8 goals scored (2 / match)
  • 7 goals allowed (1.75 / match)
• 2026 Leaders:
  • Joseba Zabala - 3 goals, 7 shots on-goal
  • Ike D'Silva - 2 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots on-goal
  • Pablo Martin - 1 goal, 4 assists, 8 shots on-goal
  • Alvaro Boned - 17 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Avila Eagles:
  • 0-2 record
    • lost to #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan 9-0 (Aug.26)
    • lost to Park (Mo.) 6-2 last time out (Aug.29)
      • trailed 6-1 at intermission
      • both Avila goals scored by Deagen Loomis
      • Victor Chavez made five saves
  • member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (14 teams)
  • picked to finish 13th of 14 teams in the KCAC preseason poll
    • #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan is picked to win the conference, followed by #18 Ottawa
  • two teams from the KCAC were ranked in the NAIA preseason poll
    • both Oklahoma Wesleyan and Ottawa qualified for the final site at the 2025 NAIA Soccer Championship and lost in the round of 16
  • Head Coach: Robert Kelly -6th year
    • named head coach prior to the 2021 season
    • spent three years prior as the assistant for both the men's and women's programs at Avila
    • played at the University of Tulsa
  • 2025 record: 2-11 in KCAC (13th), 5-13 overall
    • did not qualify for postseason
    • scored 15 goals (.8 / match); allowed 57 (3.2 / match)
  • lost five starters
  • return six starters, 14 players
    • return 8 goals, 3 assists
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 1 goal / match (2 total)
    • allowed 7.5 goals / match (15 total)
  • Key Returners / Players:
    • Deegan Loomis - 2 goals, 3 shots
    • River Howard - 2 shots (scored two goals last year)
    • Jackson Mayer - 11 saves
    • Victor Chavez - 6 saves

• Viterbo V-Hawks:
  • 0-1-2 record
    • lost to (RV) Clarke 5-3 on August 25
    • tied both University of Dubuque (1-1) and Upper Iowa (0-0)
    • last time out, outshot Upper Iowa 14-7 (7-4 on-goal)
    • Alexis DaPonte made four saves
  • member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (9 teams)
  • there was no preseason poll
    • Olivet Nazarene is the defending conference champion
  • two teams from the CCAC were ranked in the NAIA preseason poll
    •  Olivet Nazarene (#21) and Holy Cross (RV) 
  • Head Coach: Roberto Yepez - 4th year
    • named head coach prior to the 2023 season
    • served as an ass't for Point (2022) and for Lincoln (2019-22)
    • played for Lincoln (Ill.) where he earned all-conference honors
  • 2025 record: 7-3 (2nd of 11 teams), 12-6-2 overall
    • lost to Olivet Nazarene in the postseason championship and one match from qualifying for nationals
    • scored 47 goals (2.3 / match); allowed 33 (1.6 / match)
  • lost three starters
  • return eight starters, 20 players
    • return 26 goals, 17 assists
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 1.3 goals / match (4 total)
    • allowed 2 goals / match (65 total)
  • Key Returners / Players:
    • Jokubas Jancauskas (1st team all-conference) - 1 goal (9 goals, 3 assists last year)
    • Ted Holstein (2nd team all-conference) - scored 2 goals, 1 assist last year
    • Johan Hamnstrom - scored five goals last year
    • Marco Marza - 1 goal, 2 shots on-goal last year
    • Peter Kolenyo - returning starter, 6 saves (4-1 last year)