Cromwell Finds Home by the Bay

AS HER ROOMMATE SOUGHT to pass along a message from some ''English guy named Ian,'' Amanda Cromwell was meandering home to Florida after failing to catch on with San Diego last spring, wondering if her WUSA playing days were done.

Cromwell, 33, a defender and midfielder with nice touch and scads of experience, had worked into starting roles with Washington in 2001 and Atlanta in 2002, but she was waived following both seasons. She was prepared to concentrate on her other job – this fall will be her fifth season as head coach of Atlantic Sun power UCF – until this Ian guy got involved.

''I thought this was probably it,'' Cromwell said. Word of Ian's interest provided no spark. ''I had no idea what [my roommate] was talking about. Then she said something about San Jose. Oh, that Ian.''

That Ian – San Jose CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers – wanted Cromwell back in California and offered a ''reserve'' roster spot days before the opener. She accepted, and within four games, she was starting in central defense. After 10 games, Sawyers signed her to a full-pay contract. Her consistent, persistent play has solidified a backline that has weathered injuries to Dianne Alagich, Kelly Lindsey and Brandi Chastain.

''She came in and played very well,'' Sawyers said. ''She won balls, distributed well, was courageous. Her overall play, her leadership and her communication skills were what we needed in that position.

''And our team is kind of complemented by some of the things she needs to do. She'd rather play the ball than whack it.''

San Jose's struggles this year have had nothing to do with defense – only Atlanta and San Diego surrender fewer goals per game – and Cromwell has flourished between Thori Bryan and Chastain, her former teammates with the U.S. women's national squad. Cromwell earned 55 caps and played in the 1995 Women's World Cup.

She was Washington's sixth-round choice in the WUSA's inaugural draft, started 18 games for the Freedom, then jumped to Atlanta. She was a Beat starter by the seventh game, sparking the struggling power on a three-game shutout streak.

Cromwell's CyberRays tenure shows she's not finished yet, and Sawyers has expressed interest she return in 2004.

''He said he'd like me back,'' Cromwell said. ''It's nice to have that support, to have him think I can help the team.''

And skipping the annual waiver process: ''That would be nice. That would be very nice.''

by Soccer America Senior Editor Scott French