Mentor, Lake Catholic Boys Soccer Teams Advance In Playoffs

The Mentor High School and Lake Catholic boys soccer teams finished what their girls' teams started Thursday, as both the Cardinals and Cougars topped their respective opponent to advance in the district playoffs.

• Top-seeded Mentor shut out Riverside 2-0. Jake Lombardo and Brendon Mullen scored for the Cardinals.

Mentor's next game will be a district semifinal against Cleveland Heights 7 p.m. Wednesday on the turf field at Mentor High School.

• Meanwhile, a strike in the 61st minute from Lake Catholic senior Ryan Smerke gave the Cougars a 2-1 win over rival NDCL. Smerke was assisted by Nik Newhart on the deciding goal.

"The ball came from Nik Newhart, and he had a big second half for us on the right flank," Lake coach Ante Pilekic told The News-Herald after the game. "He was just making things happen. He was the third person outside of (All-Ohio midfielder Joe Korb) and Ryan that was able to step up and create."

• Both the Mentor boys and girls cross country teams came out on top at the regional qualifier Saturday at Lakeland Community College, according to The News-Herald.

Cardinals Kinsey Robinson and Jeff Gudowicz were individual runners-up for the meet, as well.

Both boys and girls team qualified for regionals next week at Boardman.

• Finally, Lake Catholic cross country runner Amy Dalpiaz qualified for regionals as an individual.