TAMPA, Fla. – The Western Michigan men’s soccer team faced a tough loss, dropping 3-1 to the South Florida Bulls. Despite a strong offensive push in the second half, they couldn’t overcome an early deficit.
The Bulls got on the scoreboard first with a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 16th minute. They quickly followed up with another goal in the 31st minute, taking advantage of a missed opportunity from an earlier shot. South Florida sealed their lead with a third goal shortly after, leaving Western Michigan trailing at halftime.
After the break, the Broncos came out strong. Midfielder Braden Stevanovic had an early chance that forced a save from the Bulls’ goalkeeper. For the next several minutes, Western Michigan kept pressure on the South Florida defense with corner kicks and shots. The breakthrough came in the 59th minute when sophomore forward Sahel Yessen scored his first goal for the Broncos, putting Western Michigan on the board.
The Broncos kept their momentum going, coming close to scoring again. Yessen almost added a second goal but couldn’t find the net after a perfectly set-up header. Late in the game, Liam Smith forced another diving save from the Bulls’ keeper, highlighting the Broncos’ desperation to equalize. Despite taking multiple shots in the final minutes, including near misses from midfielder Gabe Villagomez, they couldn’t find the back of the net again.
This match marked a growing trend in college soccer where teams increasingly push hard in the second half. Recent statistics show that teams that score first often secure victory, suggesting that early goals can be critical in close matches.
As the Broncos head to their next game, they’ll need to focus on starting strong to avoid falling behind again. They face the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. EST.
For more insights on collegiate soccer and how early goals impact game outcomes, you can check out this NCAA report.
