Grades 6-12; Boarding 8-12

Calendar

Soccer - Boys' Varsity

2024-25 Team

The Pennington Soccer program dates back to 1932 and has enjoyed championship success since its founding, including numerous NJISAA Prep B Championships. Since 2009, Pennington has played in the NJISAA Prep A state tournament.

In 2012, the team won its first Mercer County Tournament (MCT) Championship and has since gone on to win six County Championships in that time, including an unprecedented five straight titles. The team also won its first NJISAA Prep A soccer title in Pennington School history in 2016 when they defeated St. Benedict's Prep 3-1 in the championship game. Pennington finished the season as the #4 ranked team in the nation that year. In 2017 the team opened up their season as the #1 high school team in the nation. Pennington boasts numerous All-Americans, Scholar All-Americans, Players of the Year, and Mercer County team of the year. 

Pennington’s program boasts a full-time strength and conditioning coach, a full-time goalkeeper coach, and a combined 50+ years of coaching experience on the sidelines. Pennington plays a nationally-ranked schedule that competes against some of the best high school programs on the east coast. 

Playing in front of capacity crowds at Pennington’s home turf stadium, there is a lot of pride and School spirit around the Pennington program, which has a diverse group of student-athletes from all over the world. Players from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Finland and many other countries have proudly worn the Pennington jersey. Pennington prides itself on helping all student-athletes achieve their goals both in the classroom and on the pitch. The program has produced several college-level players at schools such as Amherst College, Connecticut College, Lafayette College, Marshall University, Boston University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Rutgers University, University of Connecticut, Louisville, the University of Pennsylvania, and many others. Many of their players have gone off to achieve great college success including All-American status, conference players of the year, conference rookies of the year, and NCAA tournaments. 

At the helm of the boys’ soccer program is Chad Bridges, who is also the assistant head of School for community life, dean of students, and director of the residential life program at The Pennington School. An alumnus of Pennington, Bridges graduated from Drew University, where he earned a B.A. in political science, and then went on to earn his M.S. Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. Bridges became a four-year starter on Lenny Armuth’s soccer team at Drew and captained the squad to its second consecutive NCAA tournament and a national ranking in 1998 and 1999, where he earned All-Conference and regional all-American accolades. He came back to Pennington and 2005 and took over as the boys’ soccer coach in 2010, helping to guide the program as one of the top high school soccer programs in the country. Bridges has twice been named New Jersey State Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2016 and has been named Area Coach of the Year and Prep Coach of the year for Mercer County on several occasions. In 2017, Bridges was named Trentonian Sports Person of the Year for his accomplishments in sports for Mercer County. Bridges was selected to coach the High School All-American game after his team finished the season as the #4 ranked high school program in the nation. Bridges holds numerous diplomas from the United Soccer Coaches Association (formerly NSCAA) including his Premier and High School Coaches diplomas. Bridges is the founder of Next Level Soccer Academy, based in Pennington, New Jersey, which was formed in 2007. 

Joining Bridges on the sidelines is Sean Davies and Ryan Stokes, assistant varsity coaches. Coach Davies is a former professional player and longtime trainer and coach in the NJ/PA area who has worked with thousands of athletes over the last 18 years. Davies attended Middle Township High School and garnered 1st Team All-State honors in his senior year. He went on to a post-graduate year at the Hun School of Princeton, where he also achieved 1st Team All-State Honors. 

After high school, Davies attended Millersville University where he was a 1st Team All-PSAC award winner in his senior campaign and he still holds the career record for assists in a season and career.  He played professionally in the USL for the West Michigan Edge, Reading Rage, and the South Jersey Barons. He maintains his NSCAA Advanced National license, United States Soccer Federation National Youth license, and other United States Soccer Federation licenses.

Ryan Stokes, a current member of the residential faculty and teacher of health at The Pennington School, graduated from Immaculata University, where he played for four years and was a two-time All-CSAC academic team recipient. Prior to Immaculata, Stokes was an All-Prep performer and two-time MAPL champion at the Hun School of Princeton. Stokes works primarily with goalkeepers and defenders, helps coach Pennington’s Middle School co-ed soccer team, and is the assistant varsity basketball coach. He maintains his United States Soccer Federation license and a diploma in tactical formations.

Results and Schedule

Team Opponent Date Time Location Advantage Result Score
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
Westtown School
Westtown School Away Win 4-0
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Tom Liwosz Field (Turf Field at Pennington) Home Win 7-2
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
Columbia Prep
Tom Liwosz Field (Turf Field at Pennington) Home Win 11-2
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
NJISAA Prep A States Semifinals, Lawrenceville School
Tom Liwosz Field (Turf Field at Pennington) Home Win 7-0
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
Putnam School
Woodstock Academy Away Win 5-1
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
Woodstock Academy
Woodstock Academy Away Win 2-0
Soccer - Boys' Varsity vs.
NJISAA Prep A State Championship Game, Hun School of Princeton
Tom Liwosz Field (Turf Field at Pennington) Home Win 6-1 State Champions

Select a team

Coaches

Chad Bridges '96

Head Coach

cbridges@pennington.org

Sean Davies

Assistant Coach

sean.davies@pennington.org

Ryan Stokes

Assistant Coach

ryan.stokes@pennington.org

Tim Summiel

Goalkeeper Coach

Lucas Palker

Assistant Coach

Joey Jingoli

Assistant Coach

Andrey Espinoza

Assistant Coach