As a group of reporters and cameramen crowded around Jake Gleeson at the Portland Timbers training facility Wednesday, the 25-year-old backup goalkeeper couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

Gleeson has rarely been in the spotlight during his six seasons with the Timbers, but an injury to starting keeper Adam Kwarasey thrust him into the starting 11 on April 16 and he has made the most of his opportunities on the field.

The New Zealand native made four critical saves Sunday, including a diving stop on a point-blank header from Will Johnson in stoppage time, to lead the Timbers to an important 2-1 win over Toronto FC. His heroics earned him a Save of the Week nomination and the significant honor of MLS Player of the Week.

"Obviously, it's nice," Gleeson said. "You always want to play well and do your best, but to come away with the three points, I think is the main thing."

For the last six years, Gleeson has patiently put in the work everyday at practice, biding his time in hopes of one day getting an opportunity on the field with the Timbers.

He has made just seven appearances with the first team since 2011, but has performed well during his time with T2 and on loan with the Sacramento Republic in 2014, where he was a key starter and helped lead the squad to the USL Pro Championship title.

"The life of a goalkeeper is difficult because there's only a few spots," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. "He has been very patient, but he has worked hard and that's the key. You can't be too patient, where you get complacent and you don't stay hungry. I think he has found the right balance and he has been rewarded now with an opportunity and he has made the most of it."

Even though his time on the field has been limited, Gleeson has shown over the last year that he's more than capable of stepping in to the Timbers lineup when called upon.

Last November, Gleeson showed up to Providence Park ahead of Portland's first game against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference semifinal series expecting to be on the bench for the match. But when he arrived at the stadium, he was told that Kwarasey had the flu and he would be stepping into the lineup.

The Timbers didn't miss a beat with Gleeson in the net as they played Vancouver to a scoreless draw, before ousting the Whitecaps from the playoffs a week later.

Gleeson once again looked calm and composed when he entered a game against San Jose in the second half on April 16 after Kwarasey tore a ligament in his finger.

After helping the Timbers earn a gutsy 3-1 over the Earthquakes, he went on to start the next two matches as the Timbers drew New England 1-1 on the road and beat Toronto at home thanks in large part to Gleeson's incredible performance in the net.

"I think he's obviously much more mature as a player because of the experience he has had and I think he also realizes that this is a huge opportunity for him and he really wants it," Timbers goalkeeper coach Adin Brown said. "Now, he has had a chance to get a run of a few games and build his confidence and that's going to be very important in his development as a player."

Brown has watched first hand as Gleeson has matured as a goalkeeper during his time in Portland.

In 2011, Brown was Portland's starting keeper and Gleeson was forced to step in for his-now goalkeeper coach for four games early in the season. While Gleeson performed adequately in those appearances, he has also matured immensely since then.

Last season, Gleeson would train with the Timbers, before going out for a second practice with T2, just to ensure that he was taking advantage of every opportunity to improve. He has also made a point of learning from the veteran goalkeepers ahead of him through the years - from Brown, to Troy Perkins, to Donovan Ricketts, to Kwarasey.

"I think every goalkeeper that you shadow, you learn something new from," Gleeson said. "They all play the game a lot differently. You try to kind of pick up what you can from them and learn from them."

Kwarasey could be back by mid-May, but in the interim, the Timbers need Gleeson to continue to step up just like he did against Toronto.

After spending so much time training behind veteran goalkeepers, Gleeson is finally getting his shot, and he's more than ready for the challenge.

"I think the main thing is just to keep the winning streak alive," Gleeson said. "You just focus on doing your job and getting the three points."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg