Spalding starts quickly but drops soccer opener

It was almost as if they scored too quickly.

Despite a first-minute goal from junior midfielder Daniel Gaj, the Archbishop Spalding boys soccer team fell in its season opener to John Carroll yesterday, 2-1.

"It was a blessing and a curse," said Spalding coach Chris Johnson. "They think the first minute is going to be like the rest of the minutes. We had a real big letdown in the first half, which I think cost us the game."

The Patriots netted two goals in the final 22 minutes of the first half, including one by striker Pat Colgan with just seconds remaining before halftime to steal the...