Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Georgetown on September 26, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
Field Hockey
vs Georgetown
Final
2
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0
Providence College Athletics
Photo by: DSPics.com
Q&A With Former Field Hockey Student-Athlete Sally Adua '14
6/8/2020 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
Adua is currently pursuing a PhD in Cancer Biology at Yale University.
The following Q&A with former Friar student-athlete Sally Adua '14, looks back on her decision to attend Providence College and compete for the field hockey program. She excelled on the field and in the classroom as a biology major and is currently pursuing a PhD in Cancer Biology at Yale University.
Q: What factors led you to attend Providence College, when making your decision on Colleges?
As I was applying to colleges, I decided to apply mostly to small colleges in New England, as I wanted to stay somewhat close to home, be part of a tight-knit community, and ensure that my class sizes would be relatively small. These criteria led me to be most interested in the NESCAC schools, and I was happy with the idea of playing D3 field hockey. It was actually my father who encouraged me to apply to PC after visiting my brother, who was a PC freshman at the time, and realizing it met all of my criteria. Following my acceptance to PC and subsequent conversations with Coach Madl, it became readily apparent that passing up on the opportunity to play D1 field hockey was something I would greatly regret. The decision to become a Friar was honestly pretty easy.Â
Q: You enjoyed a solid playing career with the Friars from 2010-2013. How did being a member of the field hockey program impact your experience at the College?
Being a member of the field hockey program truly defined my college experience. For those four years, I completely identified as a student-athlete whose responsibilities were to perform well both in the classroom and on the field. The team became my family, my social core, and my support system and for that, I am incredibly grateful. I think the largest (and best) impact that being a member of the PCFH program had on my college experience was the sense of purpose it gave me. My membership dictated not only the practical aspects of how I spent my days on campus but also my mindset as I fully bought into the PCFH tribe and worked to be part of something greater than myself.Â
Q: Your impact on the field was impressive, starting 42 of 53 career games with the Friars, despite sitting your freshman season with an injury. Academically, as a biology major with a minor in business studies, you finished your college career as a four-time NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad selection and two-time NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction. Talk about that balance and how you were able to excel both on the field and in the classroom at such a high level. You remain the only player in program history to become a two-time Scholar of Distinction.
I decided early on in my collegiate career that my two main priorities would be my academics and field hockey, and I acted accordingly. I learned to optimize my time (I could often be found in Ray eating meals with Dante's Inferno or an Orgo textbook open in front of me), focus deeply on the task at hand (either a drill or an assignment), and reach out for help when I needed it (from teammates, coaches, professors, and classmates alike). Of course, I had to make some sacrifices to maintain this balance and level of achievement in the classroom and on the field which mostly meant decreased social and relaxation time, but these were sacrifices I was willing to make as I worked to fully optimize the academic and athletic opportunities I had been given.Â
Q: What are some of your fondest memories as a member of the field hockey program?
Some of my fondest memories of PCFH surround tailgates after big wins. The sense of pride, accomplishment, and extreme exhaustion always combined to create a wonderful atmosphere full of laughter and positivity. The incredible and generous food spreads (thank you Friar parents!) also contributed to the joy. Plus, my parents were extremely dedicated and came to every home game and most away games. I looked forward to their victory hugs all week! Big shout out to my father who came to every single home game all four seasons (even when I had mono and couldn't play!) and who coordinated his business travel around our game schedule so that he could come to every single game (home and away) my senior year!Â
Q: Upon graduation from Providence College, you were accepted to Yale. Can you update our readers on what you are working on?
I am currently finishing up a PhD in Cancer Biology. Specifically, I study the process whereby lung tumor cells migrate out of the lung and seed distant organs, a process known as metastasis. The overall goal is to understand how tumor cells grow and spread so that we can uncover novel therapeutic opportunities and extend the lives of cancer patients.Â
Q: Looking back, what advice would you give to a current student-athlete at Providence College who is balancing athletics and academics and planning for their future outside of college?
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I would advise any current student-athlete to slow down and be fully present during their time at PC. Put down your phones/screens and connect with your teammates, classmates, coaches, custodians, professors, trainers, and cafeteria workers in real life. During my time at PC, I often felt like I was jumping from one task or activity to the next which prevented me from truly being present. If I could do it again, I'd slow down a little and fully take advantage of the fact that my only responsibilities were to learn things and play a sport I loved.Â
Q: What is one lesson your learned at Providence College that has helped your navigate through life since your departure?
The biggest lesson I learned from my time as at PC was how to be a good team member and leader. PCFH taught me how to leverage not only my strengths but the strengths of my teammates, to challenge, inspire, and validate others, and to set a tone that demands everyone's best. Very few things in lab (and in adult life in general) can be accomplished (or accomplished well) alone, so these lessons have served me well almost every day since graduation.Â
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