But it is DeVey's on-field play that spoke volumes to West Coast Conference coaches, who voted him to the all-conference first team.

DeVey, a 2002 St. Anthony graduate, scored six goals and notched one assist to lead the team with 13 points, while moving himself into the top 10 in goals scored in school history.

"I think Keith is very intelligent," Santa Clara coach Cameron Rast said of the two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team member. "Because he's able to articulate himself, he's able to get across the important points."

Rast said DeVey's "experience, maturity and intelligence" help the team prepare for the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Washington.

DeVey is one of seven men's soccer players from Hawai'i on teams still competing in the NCAAs.

As one of two players on Santa Clara remaining from the 2003 team that advanced to the College Cup, soccer's Final Four, DeVey feels like "a grandpa" on campus.

"I think we definitely bring a relaxing atmosphere to the team," he said. "We do have three or four players who haven't had playoff experience. We are kind of a comfort zone."

DeVey helps the group understand what to expect as it advances in post-season play.

Santa Clara is seeded 10th in the tournament, its highest seeding since DeVey has been there.

"I don't get that nervous on the field," DeVey said. "When you're doing something you love, it's hard to be nervous. If you're a beach person, I'm sure you don't get nervous when you're surfing. It's what you're passionate about. It's your home."

On his blog DeVey also spoke about how he was trying to earn a walk-on spot as a freshman in 2002 and didn't think he was going to make the team. Until a "life-changing event."

During the last tryout practice, he connected on a bicycle kick that stunned the players and coaches and eventually led to a spot on the team.

It also led to two all-WCC honorable-mention honors and the first-team selection this season. Rast said he voted for DeVey as the league's Player of the Year this season.

"He's someone you have to have on your team to know how good he is," said Rast, who was named WCC Coach of the Year. "He's terribly effective on the field."

DeVey is hoping for an invite to the Major League Soccer Combine.

"I don't really know a lot about the MLS recruiting pro-cess or anything like that," he said, "but if you look at my soccer resume and the things that I've done at Santa Clara, I look like a pretty strong player."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.