Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad set a new MLS record with a miniscule 0.82 goals-against average this past season. (Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)

A friend described it to him as a "typical Pat Onstad save," but there was hardly anything typical about it.

Far from it.

The Houston Dynamo were holding on to a tenuous one-goal lead over the New England Revolution in last month's Major League Soccer championship game, the MLS Cup, when Onstad came up with the type of save most goalkeepers only dream of making.

With three minutes left in regulation time and the Revolution furiously pressing for the equalizer, New England's Andy Dorman delivered a teasing corner kick deep into the Houston penalty box. Jeff Larentowicz slipped undetected past the Houston defence and connected on Dorman's dangerous kick with a diving header that had goal written all over it.

Larentowicz's close-range effort on goal was destined for the back of the net, but Onstad contorted and twisted his body to make a remarkable game-saving block on the goal-line, robbing New England of a dramatic tying goal. Houston went on to win the game 2-1 and capture its second consecutive MLS Cup.

A month has passed since Houston's victory, and Onstad is still somewhat at a loss to explain how he came up with that stunning save.

"I knew it was going to be tough for him to put it in the corner from where he was, so I just made myself big and hoped it would come close enough where I could get something on it, and sure enough it hit my knee," Onstad told CBCSports.ca.

Shortly after Houston's triumph, the veteran shot-stopper was chatting with a close friend who told him, "It was just a typical Pat Onstad save." When he asked for further explanation, the friend simply said. "You're always in the right place at the right time."

Onstad made it a habit of being in the right place and the right time during the 2007 MLS season, as he set a new league record with a miniscule 0.82 goals-against average. The Vancouver native also led MLS in save percentage (78.0) and goals against (22), and he went an amazing stretch of 547 consecutive minutes (the equivalent of six games) without conceding a goal.

A two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year (in 2003 and 2005 when he played with the San Jose Earthquakes), Onstad would have won the award a third time this year if not for Brad Guzman of Chivas USA, the league-leader in wins and shutouts.

Of course, the Canadian won the most important prize, claiming his third MLS Cup title in five seasons. Not bad for a guy who admits he's no longer in his prime.

"I think what I've lost in athletic ability, I've made up for with my ability to give myself the best chance to make a save, by getting myself in the right spot," said Onstad, who at age 39 is the oldest MLS player.

Onstad, who turns 40 next month, may not be as quick or as agile as some of the league's younger goalkeepers, but his reflexes and ability to read the game are as honed as ever.

He also has a knack for coming up big when it matters most. Four years ago, he made a handful of excellent saves to help San Jose beat the Chicago Fire in the MLS Cup. In last year's final, he saved Jay Heaps' penalty kick to seal Houston's shootout victory over New England.

"It just seems to be my game. Three finals and I think I've played pretty big roles in all three," Onstad said.

Last month's MLS Cup victory capped off an amazing year for the Houston goalkeeper.

After a three-year absence from the Canadian national team, he was named to Canada's roster for the summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament when Toronto FC's Greg Sutton suffered a concussion and Joshua Wagenaar of Dutch club ADO Den Haag was forced to bow out due to a back injury.

Onstad made the most of his opportunity and was brilliant in winning three games - posting two shutouts - before Canada lost a heartbreaker to the U.S. in the semifinals.

Onstad is a two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)

Now that he's fought his way back into the national team setup following a lengthy absence, Onstad, who last played for the national team in a 1-1 draw against Iceland in August, is anxious to add to his 51 caps and play for Canada in its first qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup next summer.

"I've told [Canadian coach] Dale Mitchell I'm available. I think I had a pretty strong game in Iceland and had a good showing in the Gold Cup. As long as I'm playing in MLS, I think then it puts pressure on him to at least consider me," Onstad said.

Onstad concedes winning the starting goalkeeper's job for Canada will be difficult, especially as 29-year-old Lars Hirschfeld of Edmonton is playing regularly in the Champions League, European soccer's top club competition, with Norwegian team Rosenborg.

"Lars Hirschfeld is an excellent goalie and he's playing at an excellent level in the Champions League week in and week out," admitted Onstad, who made his debut for Canada as a 20-year-old in February 1988 in a 0-0 draw against Bermuda.

"That's fine, I'd accept whatever role I can get. I want to play, but if they want someone with experience in the locker-room to help the younger guys along, I would have no problem with that."

As for his future in MLS, Onstad is currently negotiating a new deal with Houston after the club decided not to exercise the option on its two-year contract with the Canadian. The Dynamo also left him unprotected for last month's MLS expansion draft - he didn't end up getting picked. But Onstad is confident a new deal will soon get worked out with Houston and he'll be back playing again in Texas next season.

"I feel I have at least two years left to play at the level I played at last season. At my age, if you get a major injury it's tough to come back from, so you have to stay relatively injury free, but I feel after last season I'm capable of playing two, three, maybe even four years," said Onstad.

"I'm looking forward to next season, I'm pretty excited to be able to say that I played in my 40s. I started when I was 19, and that's a long time in this game," the Canadian added.

Onstad takes comfort in the fact that David Seaman retired when he was 40, just shortly after he won the FA Cup with Arsenal, while a 40-year-old Dino Zoff was captain of the Italian national team when the Azzurri won the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

"Not that I'm comparing myself to those guys," joked Onstad.