The Lowdown: Oklahoma City University at Friends University
Location: Adair-Austin Stadium
Kickoff: Aug. 26 @ 7:00 PM
Live Stream: https://www.urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/121
Live Stats: https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/msoc/2026-27/boxscores/20260826_v9ao.xml
Flying with the Falcons (0-0, 0-0 KCAC)
The Falcons finished 4-7-2 in the KCAC last season and return Andrea Michael Xibilia (six goals) as an All-KCAC selection. Jose Quiel (four goals, five assists) is also the Falcons' top returning leading in points scored from last year. Friends was picked sixth in the recently released KCAC Preseason Poll, read the full season preview HERE!
Scouting the Stars (1-0-1, 0-0 SAC)
The Oklahoma City University Stars are 1-0-1 on the season, tying Our Lady of the Lake 0-0 and then defeating No. 21-ranked Baker University 1-0 on an own goal at the 79:31 mark. Vittorio Di Carlo has made seven saves with a spotless goals-against-average in 135 minutes in the net for the Stars. Francisco Miquel (nine goals, two assists) and Harrison Knight (six goals, seven assists) are both back after serving as the Stars top two scoring leaders last season.
The Series: The Falcons are 1-4-1 against the Stars on record, with OCU winning 2-0 at home last season. The two teams tied here in Wichita 3-3 in 2023 and the Falcons fell 5-0 in 2005 in the only other matchup at home.
The Coaches:
Bryan Perez is in his sixth season as head coach of the Friends University men's soccer program.
In 2024, Perez coached three All-KCAC players and led the Falcons to a 6-4-3 record in the KCAC.
During the 2023 campaign, Perez guided the Falcons to a 9-6-5 overall record and a 7-2-4 mark in the KCAC. The Falcons advanced to the KCAC postseason tournament semifinal round and had top-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University on the ropes, but OKWU tied the score with 16 seconds left in regulation and pulled out a 3-2 win in double-overtime.
In 2022, the Falcons finished fifth in the league after coming in as the third seed in Perez's debut season as head coach.
During his first season in 2021, Perez helped the Falcons to a 12-4-1 overall record, including winning 12 of their final 15 matches.
In his first season with the program as an assistant coach, Perez helped the Falcons capture the KCAC tournament championship and achieve the program's first NAIA National Tournament berth since the 2007 season.
Perez was recently named the head coach of FC Wichita, a local men's soccer amateur team that is a member of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). He also functions as the Technical Director for the program.
Prior to taking his position at FC Wichita, Perez served as the Director of Coaching for Alliance FC in Kansas City, where he led the coaches and developed the soccer curriculum.
His professional playing career includes competing for six years for the Kansas City Comets, an indoor soccer team in the Major Arena Soccer League. He led the Comets to a pair of championships, including an undefeated season in 2015.
He was also called to play for the United States Men's National Futsal team for their 2012 and 2016 World Cup Qualifying teams.
Perez played collegiately at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and enjoyed a standout career that resulted in him being inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
He wrapped up his playing career at UMKC as the team's all-time leader in goals (29), points (70) and games played (78).
Perez was a four-time All-Summit league performer, including earning first-team honors on three occasions.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UMKC in 2010 and currently resides in Wichita with his wife Jamie and two children, Mila (seven) and Enzo (four).
Billy Martin has served as both the men's and women's soccer head coach at Oklahoma City University since the 2020-21 season.
Martin has led the Stars to consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championships and back-to-back appearances in the NAIA National Tournament.
Martin has a deep familiarity with OCU, having served under previous head coach Brian Harvey for 19 seasons. Before returning to OCU, Martin had been head coach at Rose State College for six seasons. At Rose State, Martin guided the team to four NJCAA Region II regular season championships and was a three-time Region Coach of the Year. Martin also played collegiately at OCU from 1989-91.
Up Next: The Falcons will travel to Bethany, Okla. and face Southwestern Christian University Saturday (Aug. 29) at 3:30 pm.
Falcons by the Numbers:
Overall: 0-0
KCAC: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Scoring zero goals: 0-0
Scoring one goal: 0-0
Scoring two goals: 0-0
Scoring three goals: 0-0
Scoring 4+ goals: 0-0
Allowing zero goals: 0-0
Allowing one goal: 0-0
Allowing two goals: 0-0
Allowing three goals: 0-0
Allowing 4+ goals: 0-0
Leading at halftime: 0-0
Trailing at halftime: 0-0
Tied at halftime: 0-0
Leading in shots-on-goal: 0-0
Trailing in shots-on-goal: 0-0
Shots-on-goal are even: 0-0
