2026 All-WIAC Men’s Soccer Team Announced
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Names 2026 Men’s Soccer Honorees
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its 2026 All-WIAC Men’s Soccer Team on November 6, 2026, following selections made by the conference coaches. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point sophomore forward Jaxon Buckley claimed Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 14 goals, 28 points, and six game-winning goals.
Buckley previously earned Co-Newcomer of the Year and first-team recognition in 2025. His campaign featured two hat tricks, coming against Beloit College on September 15 and Carthage College on October 27, according to wiacsports.com.
Hankes finished the season tied for sixth in the conference with five goals, tied for seventh with four assists, and eighth with 14 points, while adding three game-winning goals. He anchored a Pioneers defense that secured seven shutouts and ranked second in the WIAC with a 0.94 goals-against-average.
Connor and Austin Waite Claim Top Goalkeeping Honors
Connor Waite tied for the conference lead with five shutouts, placed second with a 1.00 goals-against-average, and tied for third with a .714 save percentage. Austin Waite, collecting the award for the second consecutive season, led the WIAC with a 0.83 goals-against-average and an .827 save percentage alongside four shutouts.
The Newcomer of the Year honor was awarded to UW-Stevens Point’s Aisen Witter. Witter started nine matches, recording a 0.68 goals-against-average and an .882 save percentage. The conference defines a newcomer as a student-athlete utilizing his first season of participation in men’s soccer, excluding transfers who previously played at another institution.
UW-Platteville secured Coaching Staff of the Year accolades after head coach Jesse Tinney, alongside assistant coaches Tom Corcoran and Brandon Pink, guided the squad to its first conference regular-season title since 2012.
Repeat Selections Dominate the First-Team Honorees List
Several student-athletes retained their status among the conference’s top tier. Repeat first-team selections from the 2025 season include UW-Eau Claire juniors Noah Malcook and Tate McDermott, UW-Stevens Point junior Connor Urban, and UW-Whitewater seniors Mason Diercks and Hayden Saul. Malcook, McDermott, Urban, Saul, and UW-Platteville senior Justin Williams also earned first-team status back in 2024.
The complete 2026 All-WIAC First Team features forwards Owen Backus of UW-Eau Claire, Jaxon Buckley of UW-Stevens Point, Noah Johnson of UW-Stevens Point, Zac Monnett of UW-Platteville, Hayden Saul of UW-Whitewater, Connor Urban of UW-Stevens Point, and Caden Wits of UW-Platteville. Midfielder selections include Tyler Chrisman of UW-Whitewater, Ilya Lalich of UW-River Falls, Noah Malcook of UW-Eau Claire, Tate McDermott of UW-Eau Claire, Andrew Phillips of UW-Eau Claire, Roberto Salinas of UW-Platteville, and Justin Williams of UW-Platteville. Defensive spots went to Baylor Denu of UW-Eau Claire, Mason Diercks of UW-Whitewater, Sam Everakes of UW-River Falls, Westley Hankes of UW-Platteville, Brady Harwood of UW-Platteville, and Luis Marquez Sedano of UW-Eau Claire. Austin Waite of UW-Whitewater and Connor Waite of UW-Platteville rounded out the first team as goalkeepers.
Honorable mention recognition was awarded to Logan Bergien of UW-Stout Polytechnic, Carter Eklund of UW-River Falls, Keegan Maxfield of UW-Platteville, Charlie McGinnis of UW-Stevens Point, Sven Oberg of UW-Stout Polytechnic, Sorel Richardson of UW-River Falls, Greyson Shiek of UW-River Falls, and Tommy Slater of UW-Eau Claire.
An All-Sportsmanship Team highlighted individuals displaying exemplary conduct throughout the season, featuring Owen Backus of UW-Eau Claire, Mauricio Cuevas of UW-River Falls, Massimo Di Pilato of UW-Stout Polytechnic, Zachary Fier of UW-Platteville, Aidan Glancey of UW-Whitewater, and Charlie McGinnis of UW-Stevens Point. Noah Malcook of UW-Eau Claire received the Max Sparger Scholar Athlete award.