As the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Boys Soccer Tournament progresses, five high school teams from the Trenton area continue their pursuit of a state title. This week marks a critical juncture in the tournament, with key matches set to unfold.
Princeton Day School, the second seed in the Non-Public B South bracket, will face Moorestown Friends, the 11th seed, on Monday at 12:30 p.m. at home. With a record of 8-12, Princeton Day is looking to capitalize on this opportunity. The winner of this match will advance to play in Thursday’s sectional final, facing the victor of the clash between Bishop Eustace and Ranney School.
Three additional teams from the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) are also in contention. Bordentown and Florence are both competing from the Patriot Division, which still boasts four teams in the tournament. Bordentown, the top seed in Central Jersey Group II with a record of 16-3-2, will host Robbinsville, the fourth seed at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Robbinsville, representing the Colonial Valley Conference, has a record of 14-7-1 and aims to reach the sectional finals for the fourth consecutive season.
Florence, seeded 16th in Central Jersey Group I, is riding a seven-game unbeaten streak as they prepare to meet fifth-seeded Middlesex on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Middlesex holds a record of 12-6-3 and will present a formidable challenge for Florence, which has shown resilience in the tournament.
Another contender from the BCSL, Northern Burlington, seeded third in Central Jersey Group III, will take on second-seeded Middletown South at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Northern Burlington, with a record of 14-5-1, is the last remaining team from the Liberty Division, aiming to continue their success.
The winners of these matches will advance to the public school boys’ sectional finals scheduled for Friday, with the location determined by the higher seed. The Bordentown-Robbinsville winner will face the team emerging from the match between 11th-seeded Wall and seventh-seeded Manasquan in the CJ II Final. Likewise, the Florence-Middlesex victor will take on the winner of the game between third-seeded Dunellen and second-seeded Delaware Valley in the CJ I Final, while the Northern Burlington-Middletown South survivor will compete against the winner between fifth-seeded Brick Memorial and top-seeded Colts Neck in the CJ III Final.
Looking ahead, the Non-Public state finals are scheduled for Sunday, November 16, at Franklin High School in Somerset. The boys’ public school state semifinals will occur on Tuesday, November 18, with locations determined by team power points. The culminating boys’ public school state finals are set for Saturday, November 22, also at Franklin High, with the Group II final kicking off the day’s events at 10 a.m., followed by the Group III final at 12:30 p.m. and the Group IV final at 3 p.m., concluding with the Group I state final at 5:30 p.m.
With these matches ahead, local teams are poised for exciting challenges as they aim for state championship glory.
