Brian Rowe was in the shower -- in Los Angeles -- when the call came Friday sending him to an MLS team. Earlier that day, some 2,000 miles away, Stefan Frei had broken his leg training at Toronto's BMO Field. With its home opener Saturday, Toronto FC needed a backup goalie.

"I was in the shower and my agent called me three times in a row," said Rowe, the 23-year-old who had been working out in the morning with some former UCLA teammates. Rowe was taken in the January supplemental draft pick and later released by Chivas USA. He has since served as a designated "league pool goalkeeper."

He took the red-eye to Toronto that night for Saturday's 1 p.m. ET game against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes, who won 3-0 with Milos Kocic in the Toronto goal while Rowe was on the bench. Frei is expected to be out eight to 10 weeks with a broken fibula. While there is no time frame for Rowe's stay here, he says he'll do whatever is needed.

"I've been [living] out of my suitcase since I left for the Combine, which started about Jan. 2," said Rowe. "I've realized I can live on not too many clothes — just the bare essentials."