Fifteen high school boys’ soccer teams from the Trenton area are set to compete for a state title in the 2025 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Tournament, beginning on November 6, 2025. The tournament’s seedings were revealed late last week, with Bordentown High School earning the top seed in the Central Jersey Group II bracket, while Princeton Day School claimed the second seed in the Non-Public B South category.
Under the leadership of head coach Mike Brennan, Bordentown’s Scotties finished their regular season with a record of 15-3-1. They will host South River, the 16th seed with a record of 8-10-1, in their opening match scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Princeton Day School, coached by Gary Robert, will face the winner of a preliminary match between St. Rose and Gloucester Catholic on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Bordentown’s successful season included a strong performance in their league, positioning them favorably for the state tournament. The next best local seedings were attributed to Northern Burlington, Princeton, and Robbinsville. Northern Burlington, coached by Justin Faust, secured the third seed in the Central Jersey Group III and will host Neptune, the 14th seed, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Princeton’s Tigers, with a record of 16-4-1, earned the fourth seed in the Central Jersey Group IV bracket and will host South Brunswick at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Robbinsville, led by head coach Jeff Fisher, will play against Governor Livingston at 4 p.m. on the same day.
The tournament format allows for subsequent rounds to be played at the home sites of the better-seeded teams. Matches for public school teams will continue on November 7 and November 11, whereas non-public school teams will play on November 6 and November 10. The sectional finals for non-public teams are scheduled for November 13, with state finals taking place on November 16 at Franklin High School in Somerset.
The state semifinals for public school teams will occur on November 18, leading to the finals on November 22 at the same venue. The day’s events will kick off with the Group II final at 10 a.m., followed by the Group III final at 12:30 p.m. and the Group IV final at 3 p.m., culminating with the Group I final at 5:30 p.m.
As excitement builds for the tournament, local teams are poised to showcase their skills and determination in pursuit of a coveted state title. The NJSIAA tournament not only tests athletic talent but also fosters community spirit among the participating schools and their supporters.
