SUMMIT &045; The little extra swagger in the step of Natchez High’s soccer Bulldogs should be evident by now.

The Bulldogs are fresh off their first win of the season Tuesday night at North Pike, a 3-1 win where they played their best ball of the season so far.

And it gave the team a little confidence boost heading into the open weekend before facing Cathedral Tuesday.

&uot;They were pretty excited,&uot; NHS head coach Dennis Hogue said. &uot;It was a great game. I really thought we were going to beat those guys. My kids have been working hard and practicing so hard. They get on the field and try to put it all together. The passed the ball beautifully. They got it to the open man.&uot;

The Bulldogs got two goals in the first half to take control of the game &045; one each from Curtis Holder and Robin Blake with Blake’s coming on an assist from Holder.

In the second half the Bulldogs got another goal on a penalty kick 10 minutes in from Matthew Henderson after Aaron Ratliff was tripped inside the box.

North Pike scored its lone goal in the last minute of the game.

&uot;Their keeper did a good job,&uot; Hogue said. &uot;The other team hustled and had some pretty good shots on the ball. I felt for them because I was there. Their hustle turned into frustration. I know exactly how they felt, but I thought they played well.&uot;

The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, dropped their game, 1-0, to North Pike. North Pike scored its goal in the first half, but the Lady Bulldogs had a chance to answer in the second half when Staci Weaver had a penalty kick.

Weaver shot it high, but it bounced off the keeper’s hand and hit the crossbar.

&uot;The girls’ match was the most even match I’ve ever seen,&uot; Hogue said. &uot;It was almost identical teams out there on the field. The girls played hard.&uot;