CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has announced its 2026 Women's Soccer postseason awards, as voted on by the league's head coaches, recognizing the conference's top performers following an exciting 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 Loras College's Bella Scesniak has been selected as Defensive Most Valuable Performer for the 2026 season. Central College's Olivia DeVos has been named Offensive Most Valuable Performer and the University of Dubuque's Rylie Mensik has been honored as Rookie of the Year. Central head coach Mike Kobylinski 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.
Kobylinski has been a staple for the Dutch women's soccer program since 2011 and is earning his fourth Coaching Staff of the Year honor. He guided Central to a 4-1-2 league mark, to finish third. He is assisted by Kate Jones and Russ Goodman.
Schesniak is the seventh Loras player to receive Defensive MVP honors, joining Kinsey Campbell (2013), Taylor Trovato (2019), Payton McDonnell (2021), Olivia Lansing (2022), Reagan Lindsay (2024), and Sierra Morgano (2025). She was part of a defensive unit that led the league with only allowing one goal on the season. Scesniak was on the pitch for 527 minutes of action during seven conference matches. This is Scesniak's first major award honor of her career.
DeVos is earning her first major award honor in her career as Offensive MVP. She becomes just the second Dutch player to earn offensive major award honors, joining Alayna Bailey (2013). DeVos made an impact throughout conference play, recording 13 points on four goals and five assists in 562 minutes across seven matches.
Mensik had an impressive debut season for the Spartans, becoming the second UD student-athlete to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Sarah Thompson (2025). She appeared in all seven conference matches, logging 522 minutes and totaling seven points on three goals and one assist.
| 2026 All-American Rivers Conference Women's Soccer Team |
| Offensive MVP - Olivia DeVos, Central College |
| Defensive MVP - Bella Scesniak, Loras College |
| Rookie of the Year - Rylie Mensik, University of Dubuque |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - Central College (Head Coach: Mike Kobylinski) |
| All-Conference |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Olivia DeVos |
Central College |
Jr. |
F |
Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk |
| Piper Eighmy |
Central College |
Sr. |
F |
Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian |
| Lila Gwyn |
Central College |
Fr. |
MF/F |
Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore |
| Emerson Holle |
Central College |
So. |
MF/D |
Gardner, Kan./Gardner-Edgerton |
| Maggie Preuss |
Coe College |
Jr. |
F |
Hot Springs, S.D./Hot Springs |
| Ava Hortillosa |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
D |
Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda |
| Samantha Jurgens |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
GK |
Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North |
| Rylie Mensik |
University of Dubuque |
Fr. |
F |
Algonquin, Ill./Dundee-Crown |
| Sarah Thompson |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
MF |
Normal, Ill./Normal Community |
| Emily Bowe |
Loras College |
So. |
MF/F |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana |
| Emerson Gasmann |
Loras College |
Sr. |
F |
McHenry, Ill./McHenry Community |
| Gracie Gasmann |
Loras College |
Grad. |
MF/F |
McHenry, Ill./McHenry Community |
| Ciara Johnson |
Loras College |
Jr. |
MF |
Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East |
| Mayte Navejas |
Loras College |
Jr. |
MF |
Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater |
| Kelly Nelson |
Loras College |
Fr. |
GK |
Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich |
| Bella Scesniak |
Loras College |
Jr. |
D |
Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd |
| Izzy Simonini |
Loras College |
Fr. |
D/MF |
Waukee, Iowa/Waukee Northwest |
| Abby Bell |
Simpson College |
Jr. |
MF/F |
Polk City, Iowa/North Polk |
| Pepper Earle |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
D |
Des Moines, Iowa/Valley |
| Ally Hoffa |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
MF |
Des Moines, Iowa/Valley |
| Claire Lienhard |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
MF |
Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury |
| Paige Lienhard |
Wartburg College |
Sr. |
D |
Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Katy Brown |
Central College |
Fith Yr. |
D |
West Alton, Mo./Orchard Farm |
| Kylie Bloomstrom |
Central College |
Jr. |
MF |
Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area |
| Rylee Rustad |
Central College |
Sr. |
MF/F |
Gilbert, Ariz./Casteel |
| Zoey Sizemore |
Central College |
Sr. |
GK |
Omaha, Neb./Mercy |
| Elly Manning |
Coe College |
Sr. |
MF |
New London, Iowa/New London |
| Claire Husnick |
University of Dubuque |
So. |
D |
Schaumburg, Ill./James B. Conant |
| Bree Swenson |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
F |
Shellsburg, Iowa/Vinton-Shellsburg |
| Chloe Westerfeld |
University of Dubuque |
Fr. |
D |
Saint Charles, Mo./Saint Charles |
| Emily Abeyta |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
So. |
F |
Arvada, Colo./Pomona |
| Emily Jasa |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Jr. |
D |
Omaha, Neb./Westside |
| Savannah Schneider |
Simpson College |
Jr. |
F |
Hudson, Iowa/Hudson |
| Tulla Jensen |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
GK |
Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley |
| Tessa Poppen |
Wartburg College |
Fr. |
MF |
Verona, Wis./Verona Area |
| Ella Turner |
Wartburg College |
Fr. |
MF |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian |
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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.
