Game Time: 

• the Dordt University women's soccer team returns home this weekend to host Viterbo (Wis.) for a non-conference match
• Saturday's start time is set for noon at the Defenders Soccer Complex
• note: Friday's match against Mount Mercy has been cancelled due to the extreme heat

How to Follow:

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

All-Time vs Opponent:

• Saturday's match will be the seventh played between Dordt and Viterbo in the long-time rivalry
• Dordt trails the series 2-4 and has lost its last four against the V-Hawks
• last meeting: 2020
  • Dordt lost 4-2
• first match played vs Viterbo:
  • 1997: 8-4 Dordt win

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
• Chitwood is joined on his staff by Mary Doell, Brandon Hansen and Sydney Schwartz, who all begin their first season as a coach within the Defenders program
• 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: 0-2-1
  • last time out: lost to William Penn 5-1 on Monday, August 31
    • trailed 1-0 at intermission
    • the Statesmen followed with three second half goals to go up 4-0
    • Faith Mondeel scored the Defenders lone goal during the 85th minute
    • Dordt outshot William Penn 25-15 (12-10 on-goal)
• 2026, by the Numbers:
  • goals scored: 3 (1/match)
  • goals given up: 8 (2.7/match)
• Leaders:
  • Joslyn Vander Molen - 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots on-goal
  • Faith Mondeel - 1 goal, 4 shots on-goal
  • Maria Zylstra - 1 goal, 1 shot on-goal
  • Lizzie Graham - 8 saves

Scouting Reports:

• Viterbo V-Hawks:
  • 2-1 record
    • def. St.Scholastica (Minn.) last time out, 4-3, on Sept.1
      • trailed 1-0 but responded with three straight goals
      • four different players scored a goal (Evelyn Shaw, Abby Elliott, Ashlee Tupper and Elliot Bell
      • Kelcie Karweick totaled two assists
    • also defeated Florida National (2-0) and lost to St.Thomas (Fla.) 1-0
  • part of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (11 teams)
  • there was no preseason poll
    • no CCAC teams are recognized in the current NAIA Coaches' poll
  • Saint Ambrose won the postseason title last year and qualified for nationals
  • Holy Cross shared the regular season title with Olivet Nazarene and St.Xavier
  • Head Coach: Scott Pirnstill- 18th year
    • 1st year as head coach - 2009
    • served as an assistant at Viterbo from 2001-09
    • 2x conference coach of the year
    • all-time record: 155-117-19
  • 2025 record: 7-5 (6th of 13 teams), 8-7 overall
    • lost to St.Ambrose 2-1 in the conference quarterfinals
  • return 16 players, eight starters
  • return 32 of 38  goals scored from last year, including the top four scorers
  • 2026 stats:
    • scored 2.0 goals / match, 6 total
    • allowed 1.3 goals / match, 3 total
  • Leaders (stats from 2026 season in bold): 
    • Kelcie Karweick - 1 goal, 2 assists
    • Brynlee Kelly (1st team all-conference; CCAC Player and Frosh of Year); 1 goal, 2 assists (led team in scoring last year with 30pts (9 goals, 12 assists)
    • Paxton Bristol - scored six goals last year
    • Erin Brooks - 9 saves this year (53 in 2025)