Mission accomplished.

Red Wing scored four times before the 11-minute mark of the first period— including a hat trick by junior forward Nicole Schammel— en route to a 9-1 victory over the Trojans at Four Seasons Centre.

The victory puts the No. 3-ranked Wingers (25-2-0) into next week's Class A state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Seeding for the state tournament will take place this weekend, after all eight section championship games have been completed.

"It was really important for our confidence" to get out to a quick lead, Schammel said. "We struggled with that the last time we played them. It's always easier to play with a lead."

Schammel didn't waste much time giving the Wingers the lead. Just 1:38 into the game, Schammel and Emily Stegora entered the Trojans' zone on a 2-on-2 rush. Schammel gained separation from her defender and one-timed a strong pass from Stegora for a 1-0 lead.

Over the next 10 minutes, Schammel scored on top-shelf close-range shots from both sides of Trojans goalie Sophie Puente, and she fed Stegora for a goal off a faceoff.

That gave the top-seeded Wingers a 4-0 lead over No. 2 seed New Prague after one period.

"This team, they all share the puck so well," Red Wing coach Scott Haley said. "They couldn't care less who gets the goals."

Red Wing will make its fourth state tournament appearance in five seasons. Coach Haley said he senses something big could happen for this team, which has just two seniors on the roster.

"If I'm being honest, none of us probably thought we were in the echelon of the top three at past state tournaments," he said, "but this team has a real shot to do something."

The only momentum New Prague gained on Thursday came with just more than a minute to go in the second period. Lindsay Paschke stole the puck at the offensive blue line, walked in alone and waited for Wingers goalie Ashley Corcoran to commit before tucking the puck in an open net.

The Trojans' momentum lasted all of 12 seconds.

On the next shift, Miss Hockey finalist Paige Haley scored an unassisted goal to make it 5-1 for Red Wing and take the life out of New Prague.

"I was a little (mad) that they got that goal," Paige Haley said. "I wanted to keep them at zero. I took my steam and momentum and went as hard as I could on the next shift. I didn't have anything to lose with the period about to end. Instead of being down, our locker room was upbeat."

The Wingers tacked on four more goals in the third period to finish the game on running time.

Schammel (four goals, three assists) and Stegora (three goals, two assists) both had hat tricks for the Wingers. Reagan Haley finished with a goal and five assists, and Paige Haley had a goal and two assists.

Coach Haley said the Wingers' big first period was the biggest difference against New Prague.

"If I had to draw it up, that's how I'd have drawn it," he said. "Mentally, if we'd have had a tight game, it would have been tougher on us and easier for them."

Red Wing will likely earn one of the top three seeds in the state tournament and will have its opponent for next Wednesday's state quarterfinals randomly drawn. The seeding and bracket will be announced this weekend.

Red Wing 9, New Prague 1

New Prague#0#1#0#—#1

Red Wing#4#1#4#—#9

First period— 1. RW, Nicole Schammel (Emily Stegora) 1:39. 2. RW, Schammel (unassisted) 6:13. 3. RW, Stegora (Schammel, Reagan Haley) 6:33. 4. RW, Schammel (R. Haley, Paige Haley) 10:46 (pp).Second period— 5. NP, Lindsay Paschke (unassisted) 15:48. 6. RW, P. Haley (unassisted) 16:00.Third period— 7. RW, Stegora (Schammel, R. Haley) 2:51. 8. RW, Stegora (Schammel, R. Haley) 4:27. 9. RW, R. Haley (Stegora) 6:02. 10. RW, Schammel (P. Haley, R. Haley) 12:25.

Shots on goal— NP 7-6-3—16; RW 15-6-14—35. Goalies— NP, Sophie Puente (35 shots, 26 saves); RW, Ashley Corcoran (16 shots, 15 saves).Power-play opportunities— NP 0-for-5; RW 1-for-2. Penalties— NP, 2-4 minutes; RW, 5-10 minutes.