Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
HILBERT, Wisconsin – Midwest Conference newcomer Luther College received nine first-place votes and has been picked to win the MWC men’s soccer title as the league’s preseason poll was announced on Tuesday morning.
The Norse – ranked 25th nationally by the United Soccer Coaches in the USC’s 2026 preseason poll – received all nine possible first-place votes and 81 points. Coaches could not vote for their own schools.
Lake Forest College, the defending MWC regular season and tournament champions, picked up the remaining first-place vote and took second with 72 points. The Foresters have won four of the last five MWC regular season crowns.
Grinnell College came in third with 57 points, while Illinois College (51 points) and Beloit College (47 points) rounded out the top half of the poll.
Ripon College (43 points), Cornell College (37 points) and Knox College (36 points) came in sixth, seventh and eighth with just seven points separating the three schools. Lawrence University (15 points) and Monmouth College (11 points) rounded out the poll.
The 2026 season officially gets underway on Tuesday, September 1 with eight of the 10 teams in action. League play begins on Saturday, September 19.
For the first time, the Midwest Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament features an expanded field of six teams who will compete for the tournament title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. Quarterfinal action kicks off on Tuesday, November 3 while the semifinals and finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (November 6-7).
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all 10 league teams can be found below:
2026 MWC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Luther College (9 first-place votes) - 81 points
2. Lake Forest College (1) - 72 points
3. Grinnell College - 57 points
4. Illinois College - 51 points
5. Beloit College - 47 points
6. Ripon College - 43 points
7. Cornell College - 37 points
8. Knox College - 36 points
9. Lawrence University - 15 points
10. Monmouth College - 11 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Patrick Sanchez (4th Season)
2025: 7-9-4 (overall), 4-2-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: David Staats (Jr.)
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Nate Grosse (13th Season)
2025: 7-9-1 (overall), 4-3-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Sam Burmeister (Sr.)
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Brian Jaworski (23rd Season)
2025: 6-8-5 (overall), 4-2-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jack Pennachio (Jr.); Samuel Gojjam (Sr.); Demi Oni (Sr.)
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Evan Philpott (8th Season)
2025: 8-3-5 (overall), 3-2-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jives Efemini (Sr.)
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Pablo Arriaga (1st Season)
2025: 7-5-4 (overall), 3-4-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Ethan Thomas (Jr.)
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Dan Andrews (11th Season)
2025: 19-2 (overall), 8-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Sam Satisky (Jr.); Nathan Kostovetsky (Sr.); Gustavo Machado (Sr.); Andrew Swacha (Sr.)
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Ben Gyuricza (1st Season)
2025: 0-11-5 (overall), 0-7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Luther College Norse
Head Coach: Chris Garcia-Prats (19th Season)
2025: 10-3-7 (overall); 4-0-4 (A-R-C)
All-Conference Returnees: Francesco Mungari (Jr.) -
2025 A-R-C Offensive MVP; Paulo Mercante (So.); Nels Mortenson (Jr.); Elliot Lindberg (Jr.); Joseph Mulindwa (Jr.)
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Ian Hatleli (6th Season)
2025: 3-9-3 (overall), 0-7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Marco Rhein (8th Season)
2025: 10-7-2 (overall), 4-3-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Seth Schroeder (Jr.)