Gold Rush Feature: Spreading Joy
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2010
This article was originally published in the Oct. 30 edition of Gold Rush.
By Jay Reddick
Faith Adams said she would like to live abroad someday, but she's already had some amazing experiences in foreign countries.
The junior field hockey player went on numerous medical missions with her family as a youngster, visiting Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras and Kenya to provide health care for underprivileged people in the area.
Adams, whose mother is an OB/GYN, said most of her best memories of those trips revolved around work, not sightseeing.
"(My brothers and sisters and I) would help out in the pharmacy, writing down prescriptions and filling them, and then go meet the patients," Adams said. "I liked playing with the little kids -- they have so much love and happiness no matter what their situation is."
Adams is majoring in Business and Enterprise Management with a Spanish minor. She said Spain is one of her dream destinations.
On the field, her emergence on the attack has come in her first year as a starter. She scored seven goals as a reserve in her first two seasons, but 2010 brought eight goals with three games left to go in the regular season.
Her biggest game was against California on Oct. 3, when she had three goals and an assist to help the team break a four-game losing streak.
Even with all those goals, Adams insists she's mainly a distributor from the midfield. The goals -- well, she said she's just in the right place at the right time.
"Most of my goals come from being a part of the penalty corner offense, and being there for the rebounds," Adams said.
But that may not tell the whole story. Her coach, Jen Averill, said her assertiveness has helped her become a bigger part of the offensive attack.
"She's proved to be critical in our midfield, not only as a distributor, but in her ability to demand the ball from others."
Where Adams takes the most pride is in her passing. Her six assists were second on the Deacons.
"I like that my hard work has paid off," Adams said. "I'm glad I can contribute to my team and be a good helper."
Adams spent the offseason honing her skills in the midfield after being used primarily as a forward the last two seasons. She had played midfield a lot in high school, but said "this takes a whole different kind of skills."
Averill has been pleased with Adams' hard work, especially during her times away from the watchful eyes of coaches.
"She's really a finesse and skillful player, but her initiative to increase her hand speed and foot speed have really paid off," Averill said. "She's come a long way."
She admits she still has plenty to learn, but that's understandable -- she didn't play field hockey until she was in ninth grade. She was a soccer player but picked up a stick at the suggestion of her older sister. Before long, she knew she loved it.
"I think it was fairly immediate, because I had played soccer my whole life," Adams said. "This had similar game play and structure, so I picked it up easily, then worked hard to develop more skill."
Her status as the Deacons' leading scorer could put a target on her back. Adams is ready for that but thankful that she'll have the rest of the team backing her up.
"I like to think I'm dependable, as a team player, but I don't think I thrive on being 'the one,'" Adams said. "It's better that I'm focused on my role and being a good teammate."
