Instead, it became just another cleared hurdle for the Wingers, who sparkled on special teams in claiming a 4-1 victory Friday night at the Four Seasons Center.

The strong finish sends the eighth-ranked Wingers to state for the second time in three years. Faribault prevented a three-peat when it scored a 4-3 overtime victory over the top-seeded Wingers last season in a section title game. That was one where heavily-favored Red Wing dominated virtually everywhere except on the scoreboard.

Friday, Red Wing successfully fought off eight penalties — including a pair of 5-on-3 sequences — while also scoring on a rare penalty shot. The game-winner came from senior captain Annie Gorman with 6:06 to play in the third period on a two-skater advantage.

Gorman's fifth goal of the season sparked a scoring spree against the Raiders, who had outscored opponents 14-0 in their first two section games. Emily Stegora lit the lamp on an even-strength goal with 1:51 remaining and, after a Winger penalty, Nicole Schammel added a short-handed, empty-net goal with a backhanded flip from about 175 feet away.

"We had unfinished business," said Winger junior goalie Lisa Nibbe, who finished with 18 saves. "We finished our business this time and now we're going to state."

"In order for us to win this year, we kind of had to have that loss," said Gorman, who flipped a rebound up and over a sprawled Sam Stark for the deciding goal. "We had to have that motivation."

Schammel got things started for the Wingers. After being dragged down from behind on a breakaway, she deked Stark on a nifty move to give her team the lead with 2:28 remaining in the opening period. Pilger's shot tied it about a minute later, setting the stage for Red Wing's special teams to shine.

Sophomore Paige Haley, the team's standout two-way defender, found herself in the penalty box twice as she watched Northfield unable to capitalize on a two-skater advantage.

"Needless to say, our special teams were the key," Red Wing coach Scott Haley said, wryly noting that he told his daughter, Paige, to stay out of the penalty box before the game. "I feel like we spend too much time on special teams (in practice), but that's why you do it."

Added Paige Haley: "It just shows hard work pays off. We work so hard at it for situations like this. If we would have sucked at it tonight, we wouldn't be going to state."

The Wingers, who improve to 14-12-1, will play their first state game Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The matchups will be decided Sunday after the top four seeds are selected.