CATZ Athlete - Taylor Herda - Leads H.S. LAX Team to Victory

Taylor Herda Leads No. 5 Regis Jesuit Past No. 8 Cherry Creek, 7-6

Regis Jesuit junior Taylor Herda took over a starting attackman position only after one of his teammates was suspended from school Monday afternoon.

But after the way he played in Regis Jesuit's game against Cherry Creek, it will be tough to take him out of the starting lineup.

Herda scored a game-high three goals, including the game-winner with 1:25 remaining, to lead No. 5 Regis Jesuit to a 7-6 victory over No. 8 Cherry Creek in a Colorado High School Activities Association game.

"He was big-time," Regis Jesuit Coach Jim Soran said. "He finished strong. He had a real nice presence."

With the game tied, 6-6, late in regulation, Herda took a pass from senior attackman Luke Strode and made it count. Strode finished with two assists for Regis Jesuit (2-0), which won its second straight.

Senior middie Greyson Konkel and junior middie C.J. Schmidt each added two goals for Regis Jesuit, which will head to the high-caliber Jesuit Classic tournament in Maryland this weekend on a roll.

In a losing effort, Michael Beimford dished three assists and Hamilton Blair scored twice for Cherry Creek (0-1), which lost its season opener.

Regis Jesuit led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, the game was tied, 3-3, at halftime and Regis Jesuit led 6-5 going into the fourth quarter. Blair scored his second of the game with 5:37 remaining in regulation to tie it, but Herda answered four minutes later.

"We needed the momentum," Soran said. "Cherry Creek is one of the top programs in the area, so for our guys it's nice. But our guys understand this is the second game of the season."

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