Sept. 6, 2005
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - After scoring two thrilling game-winning goals last week for the fourth-ranked Santa Clara University men's soccer team, junior Keith DeVey was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week.
A native of Kula, Hawai'i, DeVey scored with less than two minutes remaining to give Santa Clara a 3-2 victory over previously second-ranked UCLA in Fullerton, Calif. Two days later, he gathered a rebound off a Kelechi Igwe shot that was saved by the keeper and converted with less than five minutes remaining in the Broncos' 1-0 win at Cal State Fullerton.
"Keith can score goals for us and he's shown throughout his career that he can also make big goals," said head coach Cameron Rast. "He came up big for us last weekend, certainly, and deserved to named the WCC Player of the Week."
Against the Bruins, DeVey battled a UCLA defender into the penalty area and launched a seemingly impossible shot from the right side of the goal that found the upper far corner of the net, just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Nate Pena.
Santa Clara had scored twice in the first half of the game, both on penalty kicks by Peter Lowry. Then, the Bronco defense was tested as the Bruins stormed back with two second-half goals to tie the game before DeVey notched the game-winner.
With Sunday's game at Fullerton appearing headed to overtime without a goal, Igwe dribbled in from the left flank and took a hard shot that deflected off keeper Kevin Puder and DeVey booted the loose ball across the goal line.
DeVey has 10 goals during his three seasons at Santa Clara, five of which have been game-winners.
Santa Clara, which moved up to fourth in the NSCAA/adidas rankings with the two wins, returns to action Friday at fifth-ranked Maryland. The Terrapins also played two games in Southern California, defeating Fullerton by a score of 7-0 and losing at UCLA by a 4-0 margin.
Friday's game will be televised by Comcast SportsNet. The game will be shown live in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as via Dish Network and Directv. In Northern California, the game will be shown tape-delayed at 9 p.m. following the Santa Clara vs. Notre Dame women's soccer game that will be shown live.