TOWN OF MENASHA — With a showdown against Fond du Lac, another team unbeaten in league play, looming, Appleton United could have been caught looking ahead Thursday night.

United’s focus, though, was far from fuzzy.

Payback is a tremendous motivator and United made sure it delivered some in a 6-3 Badgerland Conference hockey win over Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha at the Tri County Ice Arena.

Junior Cooper Watson turned a hat trick and United avenged a pair of 2011-12 losses to the Rockets, including a defeat in the postseason.

“We were a little angry they beat us twice last year, especially in the playoffs,” said Watson. “So it was good to get them back. This was a big win.”

Appleton United (6-0 Badgerland) will host Fond du Lac (5-0) Saturday at the Appleton Family Ice Center in a key Badgerland game, but took care of business against a banged-up but competitive Rockets squad.

“They (the Rockets) have some really good players and pass the puck well,” said Dylan Phinney, United’s freshman goalie who finished with 24 saves. “We’re playing pretty strong hockey right now. We have a lot of seniors who have stepped up and some freshman who have stepped up, too.”

Appleton United (8-6-1 overall) dominated play early, building a 4-0 lead early in the second period.

Watson scored two of his goals in the opening period, the first on a wrist shot just a few minutes into the game.

“It was kind of a bad-angle shot and I just threw it on the net and it ended up rolling in,” said Watson. “It was pretty weak, really, but whatever works.”

Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha (7-9-0, 3-5) lost starting goalie Austin Callahan to a head injury early in the second period with United up 3-0.

Starting defensman Paul Swannell was also forced out of the game, with a hip injury. To compound their problems, the Rockets were playing without another starting defenseman, sophomore Brent Swannell, who sustained a concussion Tuesday.

“I didn’t see the play Austin (Callahan) got hurt on,” said Rockets coach Jeff Lindemann. “From what I understand, one of their guys clipped his shoulder and spun him around and he hit his head either on the ice or the post. He had concussion-like symptoms. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

Despite the injuries, the Rockets fought back to make it a game. Max Hackinson and Alec Herb drilled second-period goals to cut the gap to 4-2 heading into the final period.

The Rockets had a big opportunity to move even closer when United was hit with a five-minute major penalty in the third period for a check from behind, but failed to capitalize on the power play.

“Right now, we’re a little thin with all the injuries and I think we ran out of gas,” said Lindemann. “The guys didn’t quit. They played hard.”

United defenseman Michael Alfaro locked up the victory by tapping in a rebound shot for a short-handed goal with 5:17 remaining. Watson finished his hat trick with a screaming slap shot past Rockets goalie Taylor Zoellner in the closing minutes.

“It’s the first hat trick I’ve gotten in high school hockey, so it feels good,” said Watson. “You just worry about the team first and if the hat trick comes, it comes.”

Goals: First period: Cooper Watson AU 2:24, Keon Schmidt AU (Carver Watson) 9:30, Cooper Watson AU (Carver Watson, Devon Blob) 16:39. Second period: Blob AU (Benjamin Koester, Brady Seeliger) 4:04, Max Hackinson NHM (Mitch Gerhartz, Alec Herb) pp 12:08, Herb NHM 16:28. Third period: Michael Alfaro AU (Trenton Bliss) 11:43, Cooper Watson AU (Carver Watson) pp 15:13, Connor Hafeman NHM (Spencer Vlach, Mason Grishhaber) 15:52. Shots on goal: United 28, NHM 27. Goalie saves: Dylan Phinney AU 24, Taylor Zoellner NHM 12, Austin Callahan NHM 10.