NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Teams were rising and falling this week as College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men’s soccer hit the halfway point of the conference season, but Wheaton was rising because of the play of Cooper Falling and Illinois Wesleyan continued to put the clamps on any challenger behind the play of Owen Boukalik in goal. They are this week’s CCIW Men’s Soccer Student-Athletes of the Week.

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Offensive

Cooper Falling, Wheaton (Midfielder, Junior, Tulsa, Okla.)

In a week with a win and a draw for Wheaton, Falling was involved in all three Thunder goals. At Augustana, Falling finished with eight shots (five on goal) and scored both Wheaton goals in a 2-2 draw with the Vikings. Facing Carthage over the weekend, he had an assist on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 decision over the Firebirds.

Defensive

Owen Boukalik, Illinois Wesleyan (Goalkeeper, Senior, Northville, Mich.)

Already atop most of the goalkeeping statistics in the CCIW heading into the week, Boukalik only solidified that spot in two matches in which the Illinois Wesleyan senior conceded zero goals to Elmhurst and No. 22 North Park. Boukalik played the majority of the match against the Bluejays and didn’t make a save, but was part of a 4-0 Titan shutout. On Saturday, IWU played the national-ranked North Park squad to a 0-0 draw in which he made three saves to preserve the shutout and kept the Titans within striking distance of the top of the CCIW standings.

2026 CCIW Men’s Soccer Student-Athletes of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 8 - Joseph Sargent, North Central
Sept. 15 - Bryce Davis, Millikin
Sept. 22 - Faheem Mujahid, Illinois Wesleyan
Sept. 29 - Gustav Finér, North Park 
Oct. 6 - Luke Vander Kolk, Wheaton

Defensive
Sept. 8 - Owen Malinowski, Carthage
Sept. 15 - Arvid Skoglund, North Park
Sept. 22 - David Tracewicz, North Park
Sept. 29 - Joshua Garrett, Millikin
Oct. 6 - Melker Regland, North Park