KIRKSVILLE - The Hornets let a 2-0 lead slip away as the Tigers prevailed 5-4 on penalty kicks after two scoreless overtimes to escape with the narrow North Central Missouri Conference victory Tuesday night.
Fulton - which had its five-game winning streak halted - fell to 7-2 overall and 1-2 in the NCMC.
"We felt like we were the much better team and should have won, but the reality is we didn't come out and play the game we needed to," Hornets head coach Joel Henley said. "We have to grow from that."
Fulton went in front in the 16th minute of the first half when junior forward Alban Dervishi scored off an assist from freshman forward Christian Mahoro. Christian Mahoro's goal in the 40th minute - assisted by his brother, senior midfielder Clement Mahoro - sent the Hornets into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.
Fulton was able to guard that lead until Kirksville got on the scoreboard with a goal in the 21st minute of the second half. The Tigers then rallied for the game-tying goal in the 34th minute to pull even at 2-all and force overtime.
After the two scoreless extra periods, Kirksville clipped the Hornets on penalty kicks. Dervishi, Clement Mahoro, Christian Mahoro and junior defender Dillon Jones tallied Fulton's penalty kicks.
The Hornets outshot Kirksville 23-16, including a 12-11 edge in shots on goal.
Fulton's junior varsity played to a scoreless tie with the Tigers.
The Hornets host Hannibal in an NCMC matchup at 5 p.m. Thursday at the high school athletic complex.