The third-seeded Camels (10-6-2) avenged an earlier loss to only school to defeat them in league play during the regular season by scoring twice in the first 47 minutes of play. Since a 1-0 loss at Mercer on Sept. 30, Campbell has lost just once (6-1-1) in eight games.

Willy Guadarrama put the Camels in front in the 29th minute with his eighth goal of the year. Richard Jata's shot in the box hit the right point and Guadarrama knocked in the rebound. CU is 9-0-1 this year when scoring the game's first goal, and 6-0-1 when leading at the half.

Just 1:40 into the second half, Guadarrama doubled the advantage. Michael Hutchison played the ball at the edge of the area to Julian Fulton, who headed across the box. Guadarrama then poked in his ninth strike of the year. The forward from Cedar Park, Texas has scored five times in his last three games against league opponents.

Campbell will take on second-seeded Gardner-Webb in Friday's 4:00 p.m. semifinal. Saturday's championship match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Campbell nearly went in front in the first minute when Julian Fulton just missed connecting on the end of Vince Petrasso's cross at the right post.

In the 10th minute, Michael Hutchison dropped the ball over the top to Guadarrama, whose right-footed effort slide wide of the left post.

After 11 minutes, Campbell had a chance from close range when Mercer defender Robert Adamson was whistled for a back pass in the box. Richard Jata touched the ball to Guadarrama at the six-yard box, but his shot bounded off the Mercer defenders at the line.

On a counter attack three minutes later, Mercer left winger Luis Hernandez just missed over the top of the cross bar from about 18 yards. Mercer keeper Roberto Cronenbold held on to Josh Elliott's free header in the box after 19 minutes. Guadarrama then broke free twice in a one-minute span on balls from Elliott and Jata, both shots missed wide of the left post.

With just over a minute left in the opening half, Mark McKeever slid a ball through to Adamson, who shot inside the box, but Camel keeper stopped the effort at the near post.

Mercer saw two opportunities slip by after 67 minutes. Hernandez' header sailed just over the right junction of Johnson's goal. Less than a minute later, Mark McKeever's shot from the top of the box missed wide left.

The Bears (3-12-3) cut the lead in half in the 76th minute when Winton Wilks headed in Shane Dubay's free kick. McKeever broke free on Arze's through ball in the 87th minute, but his left-footed shot missed left of the goal.

Campbell finished with a 17-8 lead in shots, 13-3 in the first half. Aaron Johnson had one save, while lowering his goals-against average to 1.24 on the year. Cronenbold finished with three stops in the Mercer nets.

Campbell 2, Mercer 1 (Atlantic Sun First Round)

Scoring:

CAM (28:59) Willy Guadarrama (Richard Jata)

CAM (46:40) Guadarrama (Julian Fulton, Michael Hutchison)

MER (75:32) Winton Wilks (Shane Dubay)

Shots: Mercer 8, Campbell 17

Corner Kicks: Mercer 4, Campbell 2

Saves: Mercer (Roberto Cronenbold) 3, Campbell (Aaron Johnson) 1

Fouls: Mercer 31, Campbell 17

Yellow Cards: Richard Perdomo (31:41), Rob Marinkoski (60:04)

Records: Mercer 3-12-3, Campbell 10-6-2