The report says Princeton finished the regular season 6-1, won the Colonial Division and secured the top seed. That reward gives them extra preparation time before hosting either Trenton or West Windsor-Plainsboro South in the last eight.
The bye also protects Princeton from the tournament’s compressed schedule. While other contenders will be preparing for another fixture, the top seed can focus on recovery, scouting and quarter-final planning.
Robbinsville, seeded second, open against Ewing, with the home tie offering an early chance to justify their position. Allentown, the third seed, face West Windsor-Plainsboro North, listed as the No. 14 seed.
The fourth and fifth seeds also have work to do. Hopewell Valley meet Hamilton West, while Notre Dame begin against Hightstown. Each of the leading teams has home advantage, but none receives Princeton’s direct route into the last eight.
That makes the first round the key separator in the bracket. A single difficult performance could remove a highly seeded contender before the quarter-finals.
The reported schedule leaves little time for recovery. Quarter-finals are set for Saturday, 24 October, with the semi-finals following on Wednesday, 28 October or Thursday, 29 October. The final is scheduled for 2pm on Saturday, 31 October at Mercer County College.
The early storyline is clear: Princeton have the draw advantage, while Robbinsville, Allentown, Hopewell Valley and Notre Dame must prove their credentials immediately. The first-round results will determine whether the top seed’s path remains straightforward or opens up unexpectedly.