FC BARTLESVILLE BUFFALOES CHARGE INTO 2026; REGIONAL POWERHOUSE HOSTS HOME OPENER SATURDAY
The FC Bartlesville Buffaloes’, a semi-professional soccer team, home opener is Saturday at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Soccer Complex. All home games will have free admission.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
April 10, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The FC Bartlesville Buffaloes kick off the 2026 season this Saturday at 6:30 p.m., hosting the Arkansas Wolves FC at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Soccer Complex. In a win for local fans, admission to all home games is free of charge
In just two seasons, FC Bartlesville Buffaloes have transformed from a startup expansion team into a regional powerhouse in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL).
Since their competitive debut in 2024, the Buffaloes have maintained a near-perfect regular-season record and established a reputation for high-scoring, elite-level soccer in northeast Oklahoma.
The Buffaloes’ inaugural 2024 campaign was a success. After securing the Oklahoma-Arkansas (OK-AR) Conference title with a 2-0 victory over Arkansas Wolves FC, the team advanced into the UPSL national bracket. The Buffaloes reached the National Quarterfinals — placing them among the top eight teams in the country — after a 5-4 win over Corinthians FC San Antonio. Their run eventually ended in a 6-0 loss to Dodge City Toros FC, but the season put Bartlesville on the map in semi-professional soccer.
Building on that momentum, the Buffaloes returned in 2025 with an even more dominant regular season. The club finished with a 9-0-1 record, claiming the top seed in the conference. The season was highlighted by a five-match winning streak in May, which included a 10-0 rout of Tulsa Athletic. The Buffaloes reached the OK-AR Conference championship match for the second consecutive year June 29, 2025. Despite a hard-fought battle at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville, the team suffered its first loss of the year, falling 3-2 to the Little Rock Rangers.
The club transitioned to a nonprofit organization in early 2025 and expanded into a community role by hosting free youth clinics and expanding programming for kids with special needs.
The team is heavily anchored by Oklahoma Wesleyan University alumni and current players. It serves as a pro-development bridge, allowing high-level college athletes to compete in the offseason.
The Buffaloes are coached by Luka Milicevic, an OKWU alumnus who has coached at Bethel College and Rogers State University. The assistant coach is Ivan Ristic, currently the head coach of the OKWU women’s soccer team and a member of the OKWU Athletics Hall of Fame. Both Milicevic and Ristic play for the Buffaloes as well.
Players include three Bartlesville High School graduates: Austin Bastings, Connor Bastings and Jonathan Pectol. Others on the roster are Archie Briggs, Noah F. Doolin, Perica Obradovic, Hugo R. Martins, Ian T. McIntosh, Jovan Petrovic, Kirill Pakhomov and Nathan H. Leyda.