The emotions of Senior Night festivities got the best of the Fulton Hornet soccer team during the first half of its home finale against the rival Mexico Bulldogs.
In the second half, the Hornets got the better of the Bulldogs.
Senior forward Austin Wilson scored twice after intermission, senior goalkeeper Craig Latty saved 11 shots and Fulton downed Mexico 2-0 in North Central Missouri Conference play on Tuesday night at the high school athletic complex.
Wilson headed in pass by senior defender Cody Baumgartner in the 56th minute of play for the decisive goal. Hornets head coach Brad Oestreich called the effort a "hustle play" that lit a spark under his team, a sentiment Wilson agreed with.
"Cody played an excellent ball over the top of the defense and we had a lot of emotions going on and it just fired us up," Wilson said.
Wilson struck again in the 72nd minute via an assist by senior midfielder Zach Zimmer.
"(Wilson) has been the man up top for us this year and has done some big things," Oestreich said.
Fulton (10-10-1, 5-5 NCMC) was outshot by the Bulldogs 11-10, but doubled up Mexico in corner kicks 10-5.
Latty - who has four shutouts over the second half of the season - is finding his groove at the best possible time, according to Oestreich.
"He's hitting the right stride at the right time right now and is playing really, really well," Oestreich said.
The Hornets fell to 0-14-1 with a 1-0 loss in the junior varsity contest.
Fulton concludes its regular season at 5 p.m. Thursday at Battle.