MACON GA. – Bri Robinson gave Charleston Southern an early lead, but the Bucs could not dent the scoreboard the rest of the way in a 3-1 loss to Mercer on Sunday.

After setting a school record with four assists in the opener against Brewton-Parker, Robinson tallied her first goal of the season and seventh of her career just 9:21 into the contest. Erin Rush picked up her third assist of the season and Jenea Knight was also credited with a helper on the Robinson tally.

The Bears (1-0-1) tied it in the 14th minute on a goal by Elizabeth Hargis. CSU goalkeeper Sara Curtis made three saves to keep it even before Mercer took a 2-1 lead into intermission when Kendall Cook scored in the 40th minute. 

Robinson had two chances to tie it in the opening stages of the second half but had a pair of shots saved. Dakota Fiedler was wide in the 67th minute but the shot produced a string of three straight corner kicks that the Bucs (1-1-0) were unable to convert.

Mercer scored an insurance goal in the 72nd minute. The Bears finished with a 20-9 advantage in shots with Curtis making eight saves for CSU. Robinson led the Bucs with four shots, all on target, and Fiedler took two shots.

The Bucs return home on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. game against South Carolina State at the CSU Soccer Field.