WICHITA, Kan. – Heading into head coach Bryan Perez's fifth season at the helm, the Friends University Falcons will welcome back a trio of All-KCAC selections for the upcoming 2025 campaign after posting a 6-4-3 conference record the previous season.
Leading the returners is second-team performer Jose Quiel, who scored a team-high 26 points on the strength of tying for the team-lead with 11 goals and recording four assists in 2024.
The Falcon defensive unit will be anchored by All-KCAC honorable-mention defenders Dylan Cedeno and Erik Huerta. The duo helped the Falcons notch two shutouts last year and record a team 1.89 goals-against average, compared to the opposition's 2.26 GAA.
"Jose, Erik and Dylan will be key players this year," said Perez. "As they go into their sophomore year, we expect them to take a bigger role on the team and help us on and off the field."
A pair of returning forwards will also impact the Falcons' offensive attack this season in Nathaniel Stephens and Eddy Rachedi. Stephens dished out a team-leading six assists and scored four goals, while Rachedi also scored four times.
"Nathaniel and Eddy are fantastic forwards coming back," noted Perez. "Eddy is heading into his last year and Nate is a sophomore. We expect them to contribute to our attack."
An exciting newcomer/returner that Falcon fans are very familiar with will be Sora Shibata. The last time Shibata was on campus the Tokyo, Japan native earned first-team All-KCAC honors after breaking out with a career-high 15 goals along with three helpers during the 2023 season. Last year, Shibata saw action for the NCAA D-I member Kansas City Roos and scored two goals with four assists.
"Having Sora back brings not only quality on the pitch but also brings energy and joy off the pitch," said Perez.
Additional veterans returning that saw significant action last year include Pedro Matos, Noah Gonzales, Emilio Gutierrez, Cory Gleason and Sander Heggheim. Gleason in particular is a stout defender that was an all-conference honorable-mention performer in 2023.
For the goalkeeper position, Arturo Pombo-Palomero and Aron Ponce are the only returners with experience in the net. Pombo-Palomero posted a 1.87 GAA and made 28 saves in more than 720 minutes, while Ponce played in one match last year. Perez also brought in four newcomers in Juan Jose Echeverry, Peyton Carselowey, Cameron Stout and Harper Montgomery for this season.
"We have six great keepers competing for the job," said Perez. "A mix of experience and youth. I think it will be a very close one to decide on who gets the starting nod."
Perez is also looking at new additions to the program that could quickly boost the Falcons' chances in 2025.
"We have a big class coming in that we expect to make an impact on and off the field."
The Falcons will begin the season Thursday night (Aug. 21) at home vs. Benedictine College. Friends has one additional home non-conference outing on Sept. 12 vs. Southwestern Christian University before opening up KCAC action on Sept. 17 when Southwestern College visits Adair-Austin Stadium.
"We are excited and prepared for the season," said Perez. "I am blessed with an amazing coaching staff and we are ready for this journey to start."
