HUNTINGTON -- As a former Cabell Midland player, Alex Molina is one of several from the area to be taking part in the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships this week.

Starting today, he will take the fields at the Barboursville Soccer Complex and Scott Orthopedic Soccer Complex, but on Thursday he got a jump on the competition by competing in the Crossbar competition.

All 282 teams had a representative but at the end of the skills competition, Molina was the only player from the boys 18-19 division and the only player from West Virginia to hit the crossbar with his attempt. Only 13 competitors total from all divisions were able to display such accuracy.

Maybe it was to be expected from Molina, who in the near future will practice frequently at Joan C. Edwards Stadium as a member of Marshall University's men's soccer program.

He downplayed such thoughts though, alluding to a much more important victory with his clang off the bar.

"Crossbar is a game that everyone plays before practice," Molina said. "My sister and I play it all the time in the backyard. It was fun to hit it and she missed, so now I'm really excited. We are really competitive."

Molina said that the excitement was not only for the crossbar competition, but also because he is excited about the tournament being so close to home.

He said the location of the tournament is a big bonus to help him focus for the task at hand.

"I can sleep in my own bed instead of a hotel. I know where everything is at. I just feel more comfortable," Molina said. "The places that we are going to play. I actually grew up playing on. It's like my house."

Molina plays for the Charleston FC Elite U-18s. While the team is based out of Charleston, it has a definite Huntington area feel to it.

Molina is joined by former Cabell Midland teammates Kyle Adkins and Kyle Ryder while Huntington High players Erik Bjonsson, Garith Duncan, Jamel Boukhemis and Patrick Demoss are also on the 18-man roster.

SPEAKING OF BOUKHEMIS: Boukhemis is trying to join his brother as a region champion. Karim Boukhemis was one of the U-12 Rowdies that went undefeated in the 1997 Region I tournament in Erie, Pa.

REIGNING CHAMPS: There are 10 teams taking part in the 2009 Region I Championships after winning a title in 2008.

Seven of the returning champs are on the girls' side, including Maryland's Bethesda Freedon (U-14), FC Stars of Massachusetts (U-15), Scorpions SC ELite of Massachusetts (U-16), PDA Fire of New Jersey (U-17), FC Bucks Vipers of eastern Pennsylvania (U-18) and eastern Pennsylvania's FC Delco Fury II (U-19).

On the boys' side, eastern New York's Dix Hills Thunder (U-14), eastern Pennsylvania's Lower Merion Velez (U-17) and Virginia's McLean MPS FC (U-19).

BUILDING A DYNASTY: The Beadling Soccer Club of Western Pennsylvania has 110 years of soccer tradition and excellence.

The 2009 club will be sending nine teams to the Region 1 Championships after winning their association titles.

The U18 girls team will be returning to the regional championships for the 7th time.

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