YOUNG HARRIS, GA – Florida Southern opened its 2015 season Thursday with a stern test against Lees-McRae, last year's runner-up from Conference Carolinas, and after a scoreless first half, the Bobcats scored twice in the second half to down the Moccasins 2-0.

Thursday night's game was delayed by lightning for nearly an hour and a half at the outset, and after it finally began, both goalkeepers were forced into early action. Florida Southern junior Cole Clingerman came up with his first save just two-and-a-half minutes into the game, and Lees-McRae's Gus Pederson stopped a shot by redshirt freshman Daniel Moore in the 13th minute. After that, however, the teams combined for only one more shot on goal the remainder of the first half.

After combining for a total of seven shots in half number one, both teams reached that number in the second half, with Florida Southern taking seven and Lees-McRae taking eight. This time it was Pederson with the first save when he kept senior Alexi Cortez and the Moccasins off the board in the 58th minute.

The Bobcats were able to take the lead a little over one minute later when a free kick by Matthew Cureton set up a header by Maurice Kleinert. They added their second goal in the 74th minute when Palle Jespersen scored off an assist from Nathan Watt to make it 2-0.

After that, the Moccasins controlled the final 15 minutes, outshooting the Bobcats 5-2 during that time but were unable to get one past Pederson, who finished with three saves. Clingerman made four saves for Florida Southern, and Moore had three of their nine shots while making his college debut.

Florida Southern will remain in Georgia for its next match, taking on 2014 national quarterfinalist Young Harris College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.