KIRKSVILLE -- Winning is becoming such a habit to the Marshall girls' soccer team that it is able to do so even when not playing its best.

The Lady Owls claimed their fifth straight victory Thursday at NCMC rival Kirksville, a 2-1 decision on penalty kicks, despite playing their fourth match in six days -- including a 1-0 decision the previous night against defending league champion Hannibal.

Combined with the cold, damp conditions -- with puddles on the pitch slowing the ball's progress -- it's little wonder that Marshall may not have been sharp.

"We seemed slow and little weary, yet we still played solid defense," remarked MHS head coach Josh Posegate. "It shows a lot of character on the girls' part to be able to pull out these close games."

The Lady Owls struck first, 22 minutes into the match, when senior Paige Fifer blasted a shot into the net off a throw-in from sophomore Sara Willis. However, freshman Lindsey Howd got her foot on a loose ball in the box three minutes later even the contest.

For over an hour, the teams played to a draw, finishing the second overtime period tied. That set up a five-try shoot-out, with the Lady Tigers up first.

Neither team scored on their first two attempts, before Kirksville (1-5, 0-3 NCMC) got the edge on junior Allie Bjork's shot. Fifer answered immediately. After stopping the Lady Tigers' next two attacks, senior goalkeeper Xochitl Ruiz stepped out of the net and knocked down the match-winner for the Lady Owls on their final kick.

Marshall held a 5-2 edge in shots on goal, with junior Vicky Renderos getting two boots on the net.

The Lady Owls (5-2, 2-1), who ended a three-year conference drought Wednesday, will seek their third NCMC wins in a row Tuesday when they host league-leading Moberly.