Senior Bryson Mariano scored twice and Bailey Bartholomew found the back of the net once as the Red Storm broke into the win column with a 3-1 victory over AuSable Valley at Schroeter’s Field.

Saranac Lake scored twice during the opening 11 minutes of the contest to grab a 2-0 lead over the Patriots, and Mariano tacked on his second goal of the game early in the second half to put the hosts in command with a three-goal edge. AuSable Valley averted the shutout on a late goal.

“First one of the season and it feels good,” Saranac Lake coach Brad Rafferty said. “From the opening we played well. We kept our shape really well defensively. I thought we did a good job shutting them down and creating turnovers.”

With the victory, Saranac Lake avenged a 4-1 loss on the road to the Patriots earlier this season in a game that the Red Storm played while missing three starters. Rafferty said having those three back certainly helped in the rematch with AuSable Valley.

Bailey Bartholomew dribbles the ball for Saranac Lake while Bailey Latrell of AuSable Valley closes in on the play during the second half of Wednesday’s match at Schroeter’s Field. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Senior Adrian Hayden was one of Saranac Lake’s starters who didn’t play the Patriots the first time around, and he came through by setting up Mariano on both his tallies. Mariano put the Red Storm on the board four minutes into the match, and Bartholomew gave the hosts a two-goal lead when he scored 11 minutes in after collecting a long pass from Gabe Wilson.

Mariano all but put the contest out of reach when a took a feed from Hayden, broke past two defenders and rocketed a shot from just outside the penalty area past AuSable Valley keeper Scott Lamountain 6:55 into the second half.

Alex Yeager netted the Patriots’ lone goal, scoring with nine minutes remaining in the match off a feed from Ethan Depo to make the contest a 3-1 final.

Saranac Lake out shot AuSable Valley 19-12.

Junior Nate McCarthy was credited with four saves to earn his first win in nets for Saranac Lake. Lamountain recorded six stops in goal for the Patriots.

Saranac Lake’s Bryson Mariano breaks through AuSable Valley defenders Hayden Lowther (7) and Matt Hall on his way to scoring the Red Storm’s third goal at their own Schroeter’s Field Wednesday.Mariano scored twice in Saranac Lake’s 3-1 victory. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“It’s tough in a short season like this to work on different formations, but we’re getting better,” Rafferty said. “This was a big win for us.”

Saranac Lake improved to 1-3-1 with the victory and next plays rival Lake Placid on the road Saturday starting at 11 a.m.