Tuesday night's Tri-City Challenge underscored an unusual level of struggles on the Tri-Cities soccer scene this season.

This year's doubleheader – pitting Geneva against St. Charles East and Batavia against St. Charles North – showcased three teams with losing records, all but the surging Saints (11-2-1). By night's end, Batavia and Geneva still stood at only two wins apiece.

Coach Eric Willson's North Stars (6-7-2) aren't in quite as sorry shape, but Willson still had a hard time recalling a year that's been this difficult for an area that is usually a soccer hot spot.