Men’s Soccer Season Preview: Xibilia, Quiel highlight Falcons’ returners for 2026 season
The Friends University Falcons men's soccer team is gearing up for the 2026 season under head coach Bryan Perez, with the season opener against Oklahoma City University set for August 26. Key returners include Andres Michael Xibilia, who scored six goals last season, and Jose Quiel, who led the team with five assists and totaled 13 points. The Falcons will also look to veterans like Nathaniel Stephens and Jayden Phrakonkham for experience on the field, while Arturo Pombo-Palomero returns as the sole goalkeeper. The team's KCAC schedule kicks off after a series of challenging road matches, and Perez emphasizes the lessons learned from last season's struggles as they aim for improvement.
By the Numbers- Andres Michael Xibilia scored 6 goals and helped secure 3 shutouts last season.
- Jose Quiel had 4 goals and 5 assists, leading the team with 13 points.
The Falcons are coming off a disappointing season, looking to rectify past mistakes and improve their performance metrics this year. Coach Perez acknowledges the team's need to learn from previous setbacks to foster growth.
State of Play- Season opener on August 26 against Oklahoma City University at Adair-Austin Stadium.
- KCAC schedule features early road games against Southwestern College, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Bethany College.
The Falcons will aim to leverage their returning talent and experience in hopes of transforming past lessons into successful home and road performances throughout the season.
Bottom LineFriends University is focused on using its experienced roster and lessons from prior seasons to elevate performance in 2026, setting high expectations for improved results and team unity.
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