CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) is proud to announce its 2026 men's soccer postseason awards, as selected by the league's head coaches. The honors recognize the conference's top student-athletes for their outstanding performances during the conference regular season.
Coaches from the conference nominated and selected this year’s all-conference team, recognizing the top performers. In addition to honoring the all-conference team, the release also recognizes the Defensive Most Valuable Performer, Offensive Most Valuable Performer, Rookie of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year.
The A-R-C proudly announces today that University of Dubuque's Luka Tomic has been selected as Defensive Most Valuable Performer for the 2026 season. UD's Jameson Carl has been named Offensive Most Valuable Performer and Coe College's Jonah Lasselle has been honored as Rookie of the Year. UD head coach Andrew Mathys and his staff were voted A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition to the major awards, the conference announced the all-conference team.
In his third season leading the Spartans, Mathys earns his first career A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year honor and the third in program history. He guided UD to an unbeaten 6-0-1 conference record, securing the regular-season championship. Mathys is assisted by Matt Marchiori.
Tomic earns the first major award of his career and becomes the third Spartan to receive Defensive Most Valuable Performer honors, joining Brandon White (spring 2021) and Darren Gray (2021). Across seven conference matches, Tomic logged 597 minutes while anchoring a UD defense that surrendered just five goals, the fewest in the league.
Carl claims the first major award of his career and becomes the third Spartan to earn Offensive Most Valuable Performer honors. He joins Gonzolo Hernandez (2015) and Gloire Luwara (2021) as Dubuque recipients of the award. In seven conference matches, Carl recorded seven goals and 14 points in 442 minutes of action, leading both the Spartans and the conference in each category.
Lasselle becomes the third student-athlete in A-R-C history to earn Rookie of the Year honors and the first in Coe College program history. The Kohawk freshman made an immediate impact, logging 592 minutes across seven conference matches. He tallied five goals and one assist for 11 points, establishing his name early in the league.
| 2026 All-American Rivers Conference Men's Soccer Team |
| Offensive MVP - Jameson Carl, University of Dubuque |
| Defensive MVP - Luka Tomic, University of Dubuque |
| Rookie of the Year - Jonah Lasselle, Coe College |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - University of Dubuque (Head Coach: Andrew Mathys) |
| All-Conference |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Teddy Apostolopoulos |
Central College |
Jr. |
MF |
Pella, Iowa/Pella |
| Nate Lampe |
Central College |
Jr. |
F |
Newton, Iowa/Newton |
| Jonah Lasselle |
Coe College |
Fr. |
F |
Albany, Ore./West Albany |
| Andre Elinoff |
University of Dubuque |
Fr. |
MF |
Angered, Sweden/Aspero Idrottsgymnasium |
| Jameson Carl |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
F |
Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore |
| Elias Johansson |
University of Dubuque |
Fr. |
MF |
Gothenburg, Sweden/Aspero |
| Riley Johnson |
University of Dubuque |
Fifth Yr. |
GK |
Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook |
| Jake Polacek |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
F |
Joliet, Ill./Joliet West |
| Brock Richardson |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
D |
Adel, Iowa/ADM |
| Ryder Syverson |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
D |
Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls |
| Luka Tomic |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
MF |
Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Lincoln |
| Liam Bennett |
Loras College |
Sr. |
MF |
Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist |
| Lance Grandgeorge |
Loras College |
Jr. |
MF |
Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk |
| Joseph Sorce |
Loras College |
So. |
F |
Park Ridge, Ill./Notre Dame College Prep |
| Max Matthies |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
F |
Omaha, Neb./Creighton |
| Tate Downs |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
D/MF |
Ames, Iowa/Ames |
| Jacob Chickering |
Wartburg College |
So. |
D/MF |
Indianola, Iowa/Indianola |
| Caleb Cross |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
GK |
Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North |
| Flori Gembo |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
MF |
Coralville, Iowa/Liberty |
| Lwings Kabula |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
F |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy |
| Alima Mmunga |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
F |
Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City High |
| Diego Sanchez |
Wartburg College |
So. |
MF |
Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Kenin Kapic |
Buena Vista University |
Fr. |
MF |
Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale |
| Cooper Collins |
Central College |
Jr. |
MF/F |
Clive, Iowa/Waukee Northwest |
| Mason Simmons |
Central College |
Jr. |
MF |
Springfield, Ill./Springfield |
| William Shaw |
Coe College |
So. |
GK |
Kansas City, Mo./Shawnee Mission East |
| Eddie Papis |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
F |
Washington, Ill./Washington Community |
| Elliott Solberg |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
F |
Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire North |
| Charlie Sieg |
Loras College |
Sr. |
F |
Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey |
| Owen Glogowski |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
MF |
Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep |
| Reef Rohrs |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Fr. |
D |
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast |
| Nate Hersom |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
GK |
Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale |
| Allan Martinez Garcia |
Simpson College |
So. |
MF |
Indianola, Iowa/Indianola |
| Carson Kay |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
D |
Adel, Iowa/ADM |
| Blake Whitlow |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
D |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar |
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
