After facing some of the top teams in the state at the start of this season, a young Appleton United girls' hockey team hopes its best days are looming.

Following four straight losses, United earned its second straight win, 6-0, over the Rock County Fury Saturday afternoon in a nonconference game at the Appleton Family Ice Center.

Among United's early-season defeats were to Northland Pines, Bay Area and Central Wisconsin, all ranked in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey coaches' poll.

"We have a really young team, so I think we're starting to put stuff together and progress," senior forward Natalie West said. "I think that will start to help us out as the season goes on. We just got our first two wins. I think that will carry on this season if we keep working hard."

United (2-5-1), which has more freshmen than seniors, is starting to get more confident, said coach Marcus Nejedlo.

"We graduated a lot from our defense last year," Nejedlo said. "We're transitioning into a little different era here. We would have liked to win a few more, but we're feeling good now. We think we'll be where we need to be by the end of the season."

Against Rock County (3-4-1), United was able to keep the puck in the offensive zone for long stretches of time and get good scoring chances. Fast starts in each period set the tone.

"I think (the fast starts) were important because once you start getting those shots and those opportunities, it really brings the momentum and we were able to get some goals," said senior center Molly McKeever, who like West had two goals and two assists.

Controlling the play early carried over to the rest of each period.

"Part of what we've struggled with this year is playing a complete 51-minute game," Nejedlo said. "We needed that jump we got. The top line set the tone, then the second line followed it up, so everybody bought in. The team has been working hard at picking up the intensity."

Special teams accounted for each of United's first three goals. West started the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period. Appleton scored two short-handed goals in the second period, with Haley Hill scoring off a Fury turnover and McKeever poking in a rebound.

"We'll never complain if our penalty kill is working that hard and creating those opportunities," Nejedlo said. "That was the best we played our killing system this year. It worked out really well."

United finished with three even-strength goals in the third period, by McKeever, Anna Duehring and West, respectively.

Appleton peppered Fury goalie Molly Gross with 45 shots. While Gross was mainly up to the task, especially with her glove, McKeever said the United players were successful by firing the puck low.

"She gave up a lot of rebounds," McKeever said. "We noticed that right away, so we were trying to get someone in the slot to get the rebounds."

Appleton freshman goalie Emily Fisher earned the shutout with 13 saves, including eight in the second period.

Rock County was unable to get many rushes because United tipped away many passes, outskated the Fury and had a solid forecheck.

"(I was) really pleased about the way we won the puck battles, the way we hustled," Nejedlo said. "They didn't want to lose a single puck battle. That was huge for us."