Warek’s Throw-ins Provide Unusual Weapon For Hawks

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School girls’ soccer team has an unusual weapon: Throw-ins, and specifically senior Monica Warek’s throw-ins.

Whenever the ball goes out of bounds deep in Newtown’s opponent’s territory, the opponent has to defend each throw-in as if it were a corner kick as long as Warek is on the field. Warek throws the ball from the sideline all the way to within feet of the goal, routinely.

“It’s like a corner kick, but it’s even better because the trajectory of it puts it in the six-yard box every time,” NHS Coach Marc Kenney said. “Anything in the offensive half of the field is an opportunity to score.”

And Newtown has scored a handful of goals thanks, in large part, to Warek’s throws.

Of Warek’s ten assists heading into the final week of the regular season, five were set up directly from her throw-ins. On any given throw from beyond midfield, the opportunity is there for Warek’s teammates to get their heads on the ball and redirect it into the goal.

“If we take advantage of them, we can score all the time,” fellow captain Tania Domingos said.

Additionally, when Newtown needs to get the ball out of harm’s way, Warek’s strong throws can help her team get the ball out of its own end of the field, relieving pressure from her defense as much as she puts pressure on the opposing defenses.

In last Friday’s win over Bunnell, one of the senior captain’s throws went all the way over the heads of her teammates, and those of the Bunnell players ... and into the goal. The goal was waved off because the ball did not touch a player and needs to deflect off someone before crossing the goal line.

Some players take advantage of their ability to do a somersault and their body’s momentum to send the ball flying great distances. Warek, though, gets the ball to soar with traditional throw-in form.

“I don’t know how I do it. I have always had a pretty flexible back,” said Warek, a modest player who just enjoys helping the cause with her unique skill. “It’s definitely a good feeling. It’s something that helps the team. It’s fun.”