TAMPA, Fla. – The Western Michigan men's soccer team fell behind early, and a second half offensive rally wasn't enough for a point in a 3-1 loss at South Florida.

Sophomore forward Sahel Yessen scored his first goal as a Bronco on Tuesday night against the South Florida Bulls. Yessen helped spur WMU to a plentiful offensive second half after the Brown and Gold struggled to get anything going in the first half. But 15 shots in the final 45 minutes didn't result in two goals to earn a result with South Florida for Western Michigan.

The Broncos found themselves trailing early as the Bulls struck first on a free kick just outside the top of the penalty area in the 16^th minute. Following the initial score, South Florida kept the offensive momentum over the next 15 minutes as USF added a second goal in the 31^st minute on a second chance shot after the initial Bulls player didn't connect with his initial shot. Only seven minutes later South Florida added its third and final tally of the match as a Bulls forward cut through two WMU defenders to score.

The Brown and Gold came out raring to go in the second half of the match with an early shot on goal from midfielder Braden Stevanovic that forced a USF save. Western Michigan stayed in its offensive end for the next five minutes with two corner kicks, a free kick following a yellow card, and a blocked shot for Yessen. The Broncos alternated shots and corner kicks over the following five minutes as they kept the pressure on the Bulls. WMU broke through in the 59^th minute as Yessen tallied his first goal with the Brown and Gold on a second chance opportunity on the far-right side of the six.

Following the goal the Western Michigan offense kept pushing, recording the two more shots as Yessen almost had his first brace after a header from forward Piero Sabroso dropped in front of the goal line. But Yessen's touch was a bit too heavy, sending the ball over the net instead of in it. Two straight offsides calls on the Broncos forced them into the defensive zone. In the span of eight minutes WMU kept USF from adding a fourth goal as they fended off four attempts.

The Brown and Gold got back into the offensive end with 13 minutes remaining in the match. Winger Liam Smith added his second on target shot in as many games, forcing a diving save from the Bulls keeper. Western Michigan added five more shots to its total in the final seven minutes of the match including two very close off target chances for midfielder Gabe Villagomez in the final two minutes. But the Broncos ran out of time to find the back of the net, falling to South Florida 3-1.

WMU returns to Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend on the road. The Brown and Gold make a visit to the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kick-off from Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville is set for 7 p.m. EST.