TORONTO - Milos Kocic apologized after his first outing in the Toronto FC goal this season, left red-faced after a fumble gifted a goal to Nicaragua's Real Esteli.

But the 26-year-old Serbian goalkeeper has been rock-solid ever since.

Given a chance to play first in the CONCACAF Champions League and then the league, thanks to a leg injury to starter Stefan Frei, Kocic has gone 4-1-0 in goal.

He won MLS save of the week honours earlier this month for a reflex stop on Real Salt Lake's Canadian forward Will Johnson. And the six-foot-four 200-pounder is up for the honour again after an acrobatic weekend save of a shot by Chicago's Marco Pappa.

Redemption may be an overstatement. But Kocic has made the most of his chance.

"It's been a long two years without playing consistently for Toronto FC," he said. "Now I feel playing these couple of games in a row has helped my confidence, helped me feel more relaxed in the field."

Frei remains Toronto's starter. He had played every minute of every game this season prior to taking a rest against Real Esteli last month and still leads the league in saves with 97.

A deep bruise to the bone by the knee has kept Frei on the sidelines but Kocic's play has allowed Toronto FC to ensure the Swiss-born 'keeper takes all the time he needs to recover.

Frei is healthy again but Kocic is expected to start against FC Dallas at BMO Field on Wednesday as he continues his run in the Champions League.

"He's been patient, he's always been the one working hard no matter if he's playing or not," midfielder Julian de Guzman said of Kocic. "He's a very very good professional. I think he's a great example to a lot of goalkeepers and even (outfield) players to look up to.

"Now his chance has come and he doesn't want to let it slip away."

The depth in goal is all part of being a complete team, argues de Guzman. "And I think that's what TFC is slowly becoming."

Kocic has no complaints about standing in the shadows, arguing that success is sweeter the harder one works for it.

"I like challenges. I like fighting for things," he said. "I don't like getting stuff easy."

He credits Toronto's coaches for sticking with him after the costly mistake in his first game against Real Esteli on July 27, which Toronto went on to win 2-1.

"First game mistake and they trusted me," he said. "I really appreciate the opportunity I got after that game."

There were few chances last season. Stuck behind Frei and the now departed Jon Conway, he saw just 107 minutes of MLS action. Toronto FC loaned him out to the Serbian White Eagles of the Canadian Soccer League just to get him some play.

"A shot is a shot, if it's a CSL player shooting at you or an experienced player, it's always good to face shots and be involved in a 90-minute game," he said.

Kocic says he and Frei are friends who push each other on the practice field. But the goal is always to improve.

"If I see he did something wrong, I tell him," Kocic said. "If I do something wrong, then I will ask him or he will tell me 'Listen, your angle wasn't right here.'

"I think every position should be like that. And I see right now in the team we have probably in every position two players that are very good. We push each other."

Born in Leskovac, Serbia, Kocic worked his way up through the youth ranks first in his home town and then Belgrade. He was also co-captain of his under-19 national team, which was Serbia and Montenegro at the time, and won three caps at the under-21 level.

He had a chance to go to Brest in France but elected to come to the U.S. to attend St. John's University. Redshirted upon his arrival, he transferred to Loyola College in Maryland prior to the 2006 season.

He saw little action his first year there but played all 23 games in 2007, tying a school record with 17 shutouts while leading the NCAA with an 0.47 goals-against-average.

In 2008, he recorded 12 shutouts in 20 games and a 0.66 goals-against-average. He also left with a degree in international business

D.C. United took him 21st overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, with Toronto goalkeeping coach Mike Toshack eager to bring him on board when then coach Preki said he was available.

Kocic enjoys living in Toronto, saying the local Serbian community has made it easy for him to settle.