As the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Boys Soccer Tournament progresses into its second week, five high school teams from the Trenton area remain in contention for the state title. The competition intensifies as these teams prepare for crucial matches that could determine their advancement.
Princeton Day School and the Burlington County Teams
Princeton Day School, the second seed in the Non-Public B South bracket with a record of 8-12, will host Moorestown Friends, the 11th seed, on Monday at 12:30 p.m.. Moorestown Friends holds a record of 4-14-1. The winner of this match will face the victor of the game between 13th-seeded Bishop Eustace (record: 4-14-1) and top-seeded Ranney School (record: 12-6-1) in Thursday’s sectional final.
Three of the remaining teams hail from the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL). Alongside Moorestown Friends, Bordentown and Florence compete in the BCSL’s Patriot Division, which has four teams still active, including Palmyra in South Jersey Group I.
Bordentown, the top seed in Central Jersey Group II with a record of 16-3-2, will take on fourth-seeded Robbinsville (record: 14-7-1) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.. This marks the Ravens’ fourth consecutive appearance in a sectional semifinal. The last time Bordentown reached this stage was in 2018 under the guidance of its current athletic director, Jason Zablow.
Florence, seeded 16th in Central Jersey Group I with a record of 9-7-3, carries a seven-game unbeaten streak into its matchup against fifth-seeded Middlesex (record: 12-6-3) on Tuesday at 2 p.m..
Additionally, Northern Burlington, the third seed in Central Jersey Group III with a record of 14-5-1, represents the Liberty Division as the last remaining team from its section. They will face second-seeded Middletown South (record: 13-3-2) at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Upcoming Matches and Finals Schedule
Winners from Tuesday’s matches will advance to the public school boys’ sectional finals on Friday at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The Bordentown-Robbinsville winner will host the victor of the game between 11th-seeded Wall (record: 10-9-1) and seventh-seeded Manasquan (record: 13-6-1) in the Central Jersey Group II final. The Florence-Middlesex winner will take on the winner of the game between third-seeded Dunellen (record: 14-6-1) and second-seeded Delaware Valley (record: 17-5) in the Central Jersey Group I final. The Northern Burlington-Middletown South survivor will face the winner of the match between fifth-seeded Brick Memorial (record: 16-7) and top-seeded Colts Neck (record: 18-1-1) in the Central Jersey Group III final.
The Non-Public state finals are scheduled for Sunday, November 16, at Franklin High School in Somerset, with times yet to be confirmed. The boys’ public school state semifinals will take place on Tuesday, November 18, with home sites determined by power points. The finals will be held on Saturday, November 22, starting with the Group II final at 10 a.m., followed by the Group III final at 12:30 p.m., and concluding with the Group IV final at 3 p.m., ahead of the Group I state final at 5:30 p.m..
