WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons are set to begin the sixth year of head coach Bryan Perez's tenure at home on Aug. 26 against Oklahoma City University for the 2026 season opener at Adair-Austin Stadium.

Leading the way in the new campaign will be All-KCAC second-team performer Andrea Michael Xibilia and the Falcons top returner in points Jose Quiel.

An all-league defender, Xibilia proved to be a scoring threat and ranked second on the team with six goals while also serving as a key factor in the Falcons posting three shutouts on the season. Meanwhile, Quiel dished out a team-leading five assists along with four goals to finish with 13 points.

The Falcons will also lean on veterans such as Nathaniel Stephens (two goals, one assist), Jayden Phrakonkham (two goals), Finn Kelly (two assists), Fernando Suarez Picatoste (two assists), Ben Scognamillo (one assist, appeared in all 18 matches), Erik Huerta (14 appearances) and Kal Coulthard (13 appearances) to provide experience and fill vital roles on the pitch for the 2026 campaign.

The lone returner at goalkeeper this season will be Arturo Pombo-Palomero, who started 13 games in the net and recorded a 2.00 goals-against average with 44 saves in 1,124 minutes.

After hosting Oklahoma City on Aug. 26, the Falcons also have a home non-conference matchup vs. Central Christian on Sept. 2, with road dates at Southwestern Christian University (Aug. 29), Benedictine College (Sept. 5) and Missouri Baptist University (Sept. 9) on the slate. The KCAC schedule begins with three road matchups at Southwestern College (Sept. 16), Kansas Wesleyan University (Sept. 19) and Bethany College (Sept. 26) before the Falcons square off with the University of Saint Mary in Wichita on Sept. 30.

"We didn't deliver last year, and we own that," said Perez. "Every mistake taught us something valuable, and this season we will use that knowledge, grit, and unity to improve as a program."