Natchez High did not score any goals in its first-ever soccer match.

But according to Natchez coach Bill Dillon, the Bulldogs certainly reached some in a 7-0 loss to Franklin County.

&uot;I told the kids when I came in that I had some small goals,&uot; Dillon said. &uot;We reached some goals today. I wanted them to show me that they had learned something. They showed my some basic things that I had taught them.&uot;

Franklin County led 3-0 at halftime.

Chance Garner scored three goals for Franklin County, while Josh Bradford had a goal and an assist.

Other visting Bulldogs with goals were Corey Jeffus, Justin McGhee and Chris Blackwell.

&uot;We’re taking each game as a step,&uot; Dillon said. &uot;The next game hopefully we will improve and learn from some of the mistakes we made. I can’t fault the kids. They played hard.&uot;

Dillon praised his goalkeepers who stopped 19 of 26 shots.

&uot;We had two rookie goalkeepers (Paige Bonds and Amber Black who both played a half) who did an excellent job. We had 11 kids who never played before, but they went out there and showed me something.&uot;

Dillon was especially pleased with the play of sophomore Chris Hughes.

&uot;He really showed me something,&uot; Dillon said of Hughes. &uot;He was all over the field.&uot;

Dillon said a few members of the Natchez High football team will join the team today.

&uot;That will give us more to scrimmage with,&uot; he said. &uot;So far all we’ve been able to do is hold penalty box scrimmages.&uot;

Natchez plays at North Pike Thursday before visiting Cathedral next Tuesday.

&uot;The only thing I ask is that we improve,&uot; Dillon said. &uot;Hopefully the next time we play we can try to get it to something like 4-2. I think those goals are attainable.&uot;