Zechman’s Goal Gets Stateliners Rolling with a Home Opener Victory

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - Super sophomore Paige Zechman scored from in close off a set piece from senior midfielder Suweba Jawula in the 34 ^th minute to lead the Phillipsburg High School girl’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Ewing in its home opener in a non-conference matchup on Saturday at the Phillipsburg Sports Complex.

Zechman, a center midfielder and two-year starter, headed in the indirect kick from Suweba from three yards out to help give Rob Miller his first scholastic career triumph as the Stateliners improved to 1-1 on the season.

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“I’m very excited to start my home career with a win,” said Miller, a P’burg graduate who played boys soccer. “It’s nice to be back home in Phillipsburg. Looking forward to many more wins and many more soon would be great. There are always things we can improve on and that’s what we’re going to try to do at every practice. It was a great win today in the rain and the girls were excited, too.”

Zechman was second on the team last season with five goals as a freshman.

“Paige is super dynamic as a center midfielder for us,” Miller said. “Very good on the ball and she has a very strong leg. She took a couple 35-plus yard shots today that she was unlucky not to score. She can dribble, she can pass and she’s a tough kid.”

Junior goalkeeper Grace Troxell made three saves for the shutout with a young group of defenders in sophomores Hope Garcia, Sam Fares, Audrey Scherer and Bridget Fischer and junior Aniya Gerdes who also contributed to the whitewash.

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“Grace held her own and our defenders have been super-organized in both games we’ve played so far,” Miller said. “We lost 3-0 to a very good Bernards team that I think is going to win our conference division. We have very tenacious and hard-working defenders including the midfielders who come back to help. They all won their individual battles today and got the ball forward for us.”

The ‘Liners next two games are also at home against Montgomery on Thursday and against Warren Hills on Sept. 17.

Read more:

High School Sports Preview: Phillipsburg Girls Soccer Program is “Changing Everything”

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