When it comes to the final week of the regular season, the Mentor boys side is aiming for purpose and not necessarily panache. Because with the postseason looming, the Cardinals want tests. Did they ever get one Oct. 12, as Avon Lake made the trek east. The Shoremen’s caliber ensured this was not going to be an occasion for a positive result for Mentor. But more broadly, it may have had a positive purpose in getting the side more battle-tested for the road ahead. The Cardinals got a lifeline from Jack Plaskon and remained within striking distance past the hour mark, but Avon Lake got a pair of late strikes, including a penalty kick for a 4-1 win. Make no mistake: Mentor (8-5-3) was on its heels in the defensive third for much of the 80, as the Shoremen (12-3-2) enjoyed an 18-3 advantage in shots on target in a physical match that had four yellow cards. But the hosts were gutsy enough in the back to hang around for a while, which could prove helpful with a Division I Northeast 1 District — a mini-district, really, with four-team brackets in the new D-I — that features St. Ignatius should the Cardinals dispatch Elyria in their playoff opener Oct. 23. “They have a very good team.” Mentor coach Michael Sesar said of Avon Lake. “They move the ball well. They move in groups. They attack like a wolfpack into spaces, so they do a good job. I thought we had pretty good shape. Once we were down 2-0 and then came back 2-1, I thought the PK was a little harsh. There was contact all over the field. But again, they’re a good team. And for the most part, I think we did a good job. “Oh, it’s a playoff game. You’ve got to play quality sides coming up, and you’ve got to get used to just working on defensive things against good teams. You’re kind of practicing a couple little concepts tonight that we’re hopefully going to have to play some good teams coming up, so you’ve got to get ready for that. So I think it’s very important now, this time of year, to play quality opponents.” The Cardinals were down, 1-0, at halftime after a strike by Avon Lake stalwart Brendan Sheehan in the 34th minute. His slick finish wide after an Aaron Richardson throw-in was his 21st goal of the fall. That went to 2-0 Shoremen exactly one minute into the second 40, when J.P. Gannon roofed a finish under the bar from around the edge of the six. But Mentor got a chance at a set piece in the 47th and capitalized. Antonio Bistak stepped over and Plaskon did well to slot a left-footed free kick, driven low and hard past the wall, to make it a 2-1 match. It was the junior’s first goal of 2024. Mentor lifeline through a Jack Plaskon free kick 47th min2-1 Avon Lake pic.twitter.com/nV8nTTZltS — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 13, 2024 Avon Lake did eventually locate its third. Luke Bellenir embarked on a pacey run into the left side of the box and drew contact. A PK was awarded and Bellenir finished from the spot to push the lead to 3-1 and, given the Shoremen’s dominance in possession and ballwinning, essentially ice the match. One bright spot for Mentor was the play of senior goalkeeper Dylan Budziak, taking the place of injured starter Derek Uffolz. Budziak logged a commendable 14-save evening amid volume that could be classified as hazard conditions. He had a pair of top-drawer saves to keep it a 2-1 match past the hour mark on Sheehan’s point-blank strike in the 52nd and another Sheehan look in the 66th. “He’s actually a club goalie,” Sesar explained. “He’s kind of been substituting as a striker. He’s a smart player. But he’s going to be our guy going into the playoffs. He made some fantastic saves. He’s a solid keeper as well. So we’re very fortunate to have two good goalies in our program.” Related Articles High school scoreboard for Oct. 11 High school scoreboard for Oct. 10 PHOTOS: Wickliffe vs. Riverside girls soccer, Oct. 10, 2024 News-Herald players of the week for Oct. 10 Madison vs. Perry girls soccer: Neighboring sides battle to 1-1 draw; Blue Streaks clinch outright CVC crown