When Penn State freshman defender David Gray arrived on campus to try out for the team, he came even though people told him wouldn't play.

He came with a dream and without a scholarship.

He came to be a Penn State soccer player.

"David Gray is a player that would run through walls to play soccer at Penn State," said men's soccer coach Barry Gorman at his team's media day.

The boy from nearby Lemont ran through opposing players from his starting right defender spot when he got his chance to play in the Nittany Lions' home-openers last weekend at Jeffrey Field.

It was a solid performance by Gray. He controlled his side of the field, didn't make mistakes and, whenever he could, he got involved in the teams offensive attack. He assisted on the game-winning goal by midfielder Brian Devlin in the game against Boston College. A coach couldn't ask for much more from a defender.

After the game, Gray was modest and unassuming -- the expected reaction for a walk-on and State College H.S. grad who had just played before the home crowd.

"Hi, I'm David Gray" was the first thing he said to reporters.

"We know," the reporters replied.

He deferred credit for his assist to teammates involved in the play.

"My assist was good fortune," he said. "Simon [Omekanda] made a good cross ... I didn't have to do much -- it was mostly him."

He was just happy to play.

"For a brain-dead local kid he's not bad," Gorman said jokingly of Gray.

Gorman then became more serious when speaking of his son Trevor's childhood friend.

"He's doing very well, I'm very pleased. He's a fellow Lemontian"

His family life in Lemont is what made Gray who he is today.

He gets his competitiveness and athleticism from his father, Gary, who was a Penn State linebacker in the early 1970s, and his modesty and soft-spoken disposition from his mother, Katie, who writes and produces a children's current events program at Penn State's public broadcasting station.

They both said their son is where he is now because he works hard and never gives up.

On one play in particular, Gray showed how hard he was willing to work. With the score tied 1-1 against Boston College and the Lions needing scoring opportunities, Gray received a pass near the sideline, outside of the penalty box. He confronted his defender and made a move towards the sideline.

But Gray pushed the ball a little too far; he had to hustle to stop the ball from going out of bounds. After a full sprint, Gray slid feet first and kept the ball in bounds.

He got up quickly, tried to continue with the play and somehow gathered himself and kicked the ball off a Boston College defender, winning a corner kick.