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FOXBORO - Undrafted in both the MLS SuperDraft and supplemental draft, Brad Knighton never thought he would be a starting goalkeeper in MLS by the age of 24.

Even after two seasons with both the New England Revolution reserve team and the Portland Timbers of the United Soccer Leagues, Knighton never thought his number would be called.

"It's great to be in there and make the best of the opportunity and go from there," said Knighton, who has yielded two goals over the past 180 minutes in goal, starting for the unbeaten New England Revolution.

"I've waited two years, kind of trying to show what I can do," said the 6-foot-2 Knighton, who was terrific Saturday night in blustery Gillette Stadium, making nine saves (six during the wind-aided F.C. Dallas first-half attack) and foiling five corner kicks in preserving a 2-1 victory.

Knighton was the No. 3 goalkeeper on the Revolution depth chart over the past two seasons. But, when backup Doug Warren was waived, the 24-year-old native of Hickory, N.C. - who played his collegiate soccer at UNC-Wilmington - was a cost-effective and seemingly worthy candidate for the No. 2 spot. All Knighton has done is secure a tie and a win in his two starts for the Revolution.

The unbeaten start marks just the second time in club history that New England has started a season unbeaten and with seven points taken, the Revolution have equaled the best start (point-wise) in club history.

Knighton made his MLS debut in one of the most intimidating arenas in the world, The Meadowlands, yielding a goal and making three saves in preserving a 1-1 tie for New England against the Red Bulls.

Knighton was tapped on the shoulder prior to the match by New England coach Steve Nicol as it was determined that swelling in the right knee of incumbent starting goalie Matt Reis, a six-season starter with a club-record 151 career starts and 62 wins, would not be ready.

"I'm getting a lot more confidence with more minutes," said Knighton, who was signed as a free agent in 2007 after a good preseason showing with the club in its training camp in Bermuda. "If I can help the team get better and build for next week, I'm putting my stamp on the team."

With Reis' physical status week-to-week, Nicol is in no rush to get the MLS All-Star back on the goal line with the team winning and Knighton making an imprint with his performance.

Knighton allowed a first-half goal to Dallas on a defensive breakdown, but hauled in no less than a half-dozen dipsy-doodle shots looking into the wind during the first 45 minutes, cutting down space on a pair of headers by Kenny Cooper and making back-to-back saves in the 42nd and 44th minute off the toe of Dave vandenBergh.

"The ball was moving all over the place," said Knighton of the 25-35 mph wind. "Every time that I tried to punt the ball, the ball would move around out of my hand. I couldn't hit it clean. That's Mother Nature, take it for what it is."

The Revolution lost the coin toss and F.C. Dallas chose to work with the wind, thus Knighton faced two foes. "I was trying to get as much on it (goal kicks) as I could. It was really difficult, it was tough.

"You have to approach it (goaltending) differently, it's not going to be pretty soccer. You have to find a way to get the ball forward, to try to play in their end. "You've got to position yourself a couple of yards differently. The ball was moving all over the place. It was a matter of getting my body behind it (the ball) and getting yourself as a big barrier behind your hands.

"The ball is either going to be hanging up or it's going to be coming a lot quicker at you. It was a matter of how the ball is hit, it's driven, if it's curled. It was really tough."

It was really tough too for Knighton to ascend to the starting position because Reis has tutored him so well, while also earning praise from New England goalkeeping coach Gwynne Williams. "We have a good friendship, but I'm trying to build from last week (Red Bulls, a tie)) to his week (Dallas, a win) and to next week (the 17th at D.C. United). I'm trying to get better each week and push Matt for the starting job.

"It's his spot and I'm there pushing him. It's up to the coaches to make (the starting) decision. Matt told me I've got everything. He knew where I was at, he was a backup too before he got a chance.

"It's crazy. There's no way that I thought I'd be playing the second and third game of the season as the starter."

- With the recent signings of Cameroon forward and Ghana defender , the Revolution now has five African players on the club's roster, as the duo joins (Gambia), (Gambia) and (Zimbabwe). Assengue received his U.S. P-1 Visa, completed his entrance physical Monday and participate in his first training session today ... The Revolution have nearly two weeks before their next match April 17 at D.C. United. With the introduction of the expansion Seattle Sounders FC to MLS, boosting the team total to 15 teams, at least one team has each weekend off - this Easter weekend being the Revolution's resting period.