It can't be just me.

This is my fourth full season covering the conference, and I can't remember a time when this many key players were sidelined at one time.

Fewer than seven games into the season, I can think of six Tri-Nine players - boys and girls - who have been sidelined for at least three games due to injury. All are possible, returning or current starters.

The only one who already has missed time and since returned has been Holly Springs' Wes Treiber.

Local players win College Cup: The UNC-Chapel Hill men's soccer team defeated UNC-Charlotte 1-0 for the NCAA championship Sunday.

Redshirt senior Drew McKinney, an Athens Drive graduate, started for the Tar Heels. He was joined by local products Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler (freshman, Athens Drive grad) and Martin Murphy (junior, Green Hope grad) on the team.

Apex graduate T.J. Beaulieu, a redshirt senior, played for the 49ers.

Russell signs with Blues: It appears stoppage-time goal-scorer extraordinaire Allan Russell has moved on after two seasons with the Carolina RailHawks.

Russell, famous for entering the game with little time and somehow sneaking in a goal just before the final whistle, signed last week with the LA Blues of USL Pro (third division).

Only two RailHawks players from the 2011 season are under contract for next year: Cory Miller and Akira Fitzgerald.

Russell joins reserves Kithson Bain and Nick Thompson - both of whom had their team option declined - as players assured to not return.

Barbara to Impact?: In an interesting development, the Montreal Impact - who were in the NASL last year but will play in Major League Soccer next season - now hold the rights to RailHawks striker Etienne Barbara.

The Impact placed a discovery claim on Barbara, meaning if the NASL's leading scorer last year tries to play in the MLS, he would either play for Montreal or a team Montreal trades him to.

PC, Green Hope still in PAC-6: The N.C. High School Athletic Association's staff model of realignment for the 2013-17 seasons was released last week.

There were some sweeping changes from the original computer model, which served as a starting point and did not have split conferences.

But not in this area.

The staff still suggested that Green Hope and Panther Creek be placed into the PAC-6 Conference with Hillside Jordan, Northern Durham, Riverside and Person County.

Harnett Central is still listed as joining Apex, Athens Drive, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Middle Creek in the Tri-Nine.

A second draft will be made Feb. 15, and the final one will be released in May.