OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City launches the men's soccer season this week with a home game Thursday against Midland and a trip to Baker on Sunday.
 
The Stars hope to build on a strong 2024 when OCU went 14-2-4. The Stars face Midland at 7:30 p.m. and Baker at 10 a.m.
 
OCU Notebook
Opening Bell: Oklahoma City opens the season Thursday against Midland. The Stars have not lost a home opener since Concordia scored a 2-0 victory to start 2019. Since then, OCU has gone 5-0 in the first game of the season, the last four coming against Bethany College (Kan.). The Swedes aren't back this year after being wrecked 8-0 last season.
 
Ties the Record: The Stars produced a great season last year with 14 wins but something about their record didn't sit well with the team. It was the school-record four ties. Eighteen wins would have been phenomenal but even one or two more would have impacted OCU's national tournament seeding.
 
New Opponent: The Stars square off with Midland for the first time. The Warriors are picked fourth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
 
Gooooooaalls!: Three of OCU's top four goal producers have moved on but that didn't leave the cupboard bare. Ruben Fahiya is back after a seven-goal performance last season. Thomas Brulay and Bernardo Duarte had five goals apiece last season.
 
With the Feed: Thomas Brulay is back this season after producing 11 assists a year ago. Bernardo Duarte also returns after registering five assists in the 2024 campaign.
 
Turned Away: Alexis Bertrand, who played all but 17 minutes in goal last season, is back this year. He carried an impressive 0.84 goals allowed average last season. He had 48 saves with seven shutouts and one combined shutout.
 
Prescod on D: The Stars return defensive stalwart Shay Prescod for his senior season. Prescod started 18 games last season and walked away with the SAC Newcomer of the Year award.
 
Back for More: The Stars return 18 players this season. Ruben Fahiya, Thomas Brulay, Bernardo Duarte and Hannan Ashraf combined for 20 goals last season with Brulay added 11 assists. Shay Prescod and Henrique Duarte are back to clean up the back line. Alexis Bertrand brings his 0.84 GAA back to the keeper position. Also returning are goalkeepers Vittorio Di Carlo and Alan Amberson; Defenders Harrison Clayden, Nathan Fergeson, Korbin Cardoza, Ryan Moon, Brayden Souter and Makai Franke; forward Lorenzo Nardini; and midfielders Sage Trevino and Ethan Zeinalpor.
 
Experienced Newcomers: Five transfers join the Stars this season and will be counted on. Those transfers include Matheus Ambrozio from Seward County, Francisco Miquel from Copiah-Lincoln, Ethan Taylor from State Fair, Kenz Toms from Neosho County and Chris McDonald from Kentucky Wesleyan.
 
Fresh Faces: OCU added six freshmen from near and far. Four Oklahoma City-area freshman and two international students join the squad this season. The freshmen include Elijah Sosa, Xaiden Easter, Ibrafal Diop and Jackson Conell from Oklahoma City, Harrison Knight of Northampton, England, and Juan Erazo from Cali, Colombia.
 
Scouting Midland: Midland went 8-7-4 last season, led by Hugo Garcia-Rosado Duran and his 12 goals and four assists.
 
About Baker: Baker opens with McPherson on Thursday before hosting the Stars on Sunday. The Wildcats were 13-8-1 last season. Reilly Morrow-Jones had a fantastic freshman season with 12 goals and 10 assists. The forward from New Zealand is back for his sophomore season. OCU and Baker haven't met in men's soccer since 2013 when OCU captured an overtime win.
 
Coach Billy Martin: Coach Martin is 48-27-10 since taking the helm at OCU in 2020-21. His 14-win season in 2024 was his best so far.