SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake girls soccer team opened up the season with a 1-0 home victory over the Keene Beavers this past Friday.

The Red Storm’s Anika Wamsganz buried the lone goal to lead her team. Brylee Carter, who came off the bench and as the back-up goalie, got the ball to the middle of the field, where Wamsganz stayed calm and redirected it to the back of the net.

“Overall, a lot of good things,” Saranac Lake head coach Jason Wamsganz said. “Our girls coming off the bench played really well and gave us good minutes, we are going to have to rely on them for some important minutes and today they did an excellent job at their role.”

The Saranac Lake girls got off to a shaky start, but settled in and record 25 shots and had plenty of scoring opportunities.

“I would definitely like to have had a few goals on the board,” Jason Wamsganz said. “Coming off the (Lake Placid) scrimmage, we had some defensive things to clean up at Thursday’s practice and the team did a much better job not panicking, keeping our shape and staying compact, playing inside out, and playing support defense.”

The Red Storm’s goalie Emma Akey faced little adversity, but was still able to record the shutout victory.

“I was hoping that Emma would have been tested a little more than she was, just to get her acclimated and into the flow,” Jason Wamsganz said. “But that’s OK, she’s a heck of an athlete and she knows that her days of standing on her head making saves are coming, she’ll be ready.”

Wamsganz also credited Kelsi Burth, who played in many different positions on Friday.

“Kels did a heck of a job being that utility player, we need that from her, she’s a ‘quiet,’ steady player and we all really rely on her ability to play all over,” he said. “(Zuleyka Oliveras) and (Stephanie Kilbourne-Hill) played much more comfortably in their spots and kept a better shape with Tyler (Burth) so they could all use each other. Brook Burke was solid in her kicks and at sweeper.”

Following the victory, the Red Storm are slated to take on the Northern Adirondack Bobcats on the road Wednesday. That game will start at 4:30 p.m.

“They are always well coached and tough,” Jason Wamsganz said. “We will have to come ready to play right from the start and play smart and support each other.”