Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
HILBERT, Wisconsin – Grinnell College claimed half of the Midwest Conference men’s soccer major awards as the MWC’s all-conference teams and major award winners were released on Thursday morning.
 
Luther’s Francesco Mungari was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Year, while Grinnell’s Jack Alexander was selected Defensive Player of the Year. Lawrence’s Grayson Ogren earned Newcomer of the Year honors while Grinnell received Coaching Staff of the Year laurels.
 
Mungari was the best player on the league’s best regular season team in 2026. He paced the league in both overall shots (58) and shots on goal (34) while finishing second in game-winning goals (4) and third in points (29) and goals (11). He was also tied for fifth in the MWC with seven assists.
 
Alexander led the Midwest Conference in a trio of categories - goals against average (0.63), save percentage (.797) and shutouts (8). No one else in the conference had more than four shutouts. Playing a league-high 1710:11 minutes in goal, Alexander recorded 47 saves (2.35 per game) to finish eighth in the league in both of those categories.
 
Ogren took the league by storm in his freshman season. The Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin native led the MWC in goals (16), points (42) and game-winning goals (5), was second in shots on goal (30) and was third in overall shots (46) and assists (10) in helping Lawrence to its first MWC Tournament appearance since 2021.
 
Grinnell, led by Brian Jaworski, went 14-4-2 overall (6-3 MWC) and started the season with seven consecutive wins. The Pioneers earned the three seed in the MWC Tournament, winning three games in six days to claim their first MWC Tournament title (and NCAA Tournament berth) since 2009. Jaworski is assisted by Weston McPhee.
 
The full list of honorees is below.
 
2026 Midwest Conference Men’s Soccer All-Conference
 
First Team Attackers
Jake Lu, Grinnell
Samuel Gojjam, Grinnell
Kestervens Dera, Knox
Gustavo Machado, Lake Forest
Grayson Ogren, Lawrence
Francesco Mungari, Luther
 
First Team Defenders
Jack Pennachio, Grinnell
Beacan Mottl, Grinnell
Jives Efemini, Illinois College
Joseph Mulindwa, Luther
 
First Team Goalkeeper
Jack Alexander, Grinnell
 
Second Team Attackers
Ervin Rosas, Beloit
Demi Oni, Grinnell
J’aiden Cranwell-Meneses, Illinois College
Carter Uhlmann, Illinois College
Nels Mortenson, Luther
Moaye Yao, Ripon
 
Second Team Defenders
Joe Aiello, Illinois College
Sam Satisky, Lake Forest
Elliot Lindberg, Luther
Will Elias, Luther
 
Second Team Goalkeeper
TJ Esseily, Illinois College
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Francesco Mungari, Luther
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Jack Alexander, Grinnell
 
Newcomer of the Year
Grayson Ogren, Lawrence
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
Grinnell - Head Coach: Brian Jaworski