The Whitefish girls soccer team opened the season with a tough loss on the road followed up by a spirit-lifting romp over a conference rival at home.

Lady Bulldog coach Wendy Farrens chalked up Thursday’s 2-1 defeat at Hamilton to early season nerves.

“Being our first game, we needed to work out the jitters and kinks,” Farrens said. “We have so many new faces, we needed to figure out who should be where.”

“Hamilton is a good team. It was still a good game.”

The Lady Broncs tallied in the first minute, but Whitefish responded when Haley Nicholson scored from 25 yards out on a shot that sailed over the keeper’s hands.

“They hit the net a few more times and we just couldn’t get another one,” Farrens said about the second half.

Whitefish rebounded nicely on Friday with a 6-0 victory over Libby at Smith Fields.

“It was awesome to bounce back after a loss and a long day on the road. I feel like the girls are starting to gel. It’s coming together for us.”

“It’s nice to get some games in after beating up on each other for two weeks.”

The Lady Bulldogs host Belgrade on Friday, then take on Park High of Livingston on Saturday.

“They’re both good non-conference teams,” Farrens said. “We’re looking forward to seeing new competition.”

Whitefish 1 0 — 1

Hamilton 1 2 — 3

WHITEFISH — Haley Nicholson (Caroline Carbo), 10:00.

HAMILTON — Karissa Pfantz, 1:00; Kendal Gordon (Marina McGorty), 38:00; Brianna Huggans (Reilly Rostad), 44:00.

Shots on goal — Whitefish 11, Hamilton 10; Corner kicks — Whitefish 1, Hamilton 2; Goalie saves — Whitefish 7 (Piper Greenwood), Hamilton NA; Fouls — Whitefish 2, Hamilton 3; Cards — None.