He's A Keeper

Steve Cronin is about to experience a few deer-in-the-headlights moments.

The Galaxy goalkeeper, who has played only half a dozen Major League Soccer games in his first three seasons, suddenly finds himself as the starter.

On a team that boasts such vastly experienced international players as David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Abel Xavier, Celestine Babayaro and Carlos Ruiz, the last line of defense is a relatively wet-behind-the-ears 24-year-old.

It seems a huge risk for a team intent on reaching November's MLS Cup final -- especially considering that Cronin's current three backups are rookies.

Coach Ruud Gullit disagrees.

"If you never give a young keeper the chance, then he will never become a good goalkeeper," Gullit said. "I have to give the goalkeeper a chance . . . the possibility to make mistakes. Of course, I don't want him to make mistakes, but at least there's no pressure on him and he has to learn from that."

The learning begins this week. The Galaxy left Monday for Hawaii and the inaugural Pan-Pacific tournament, in which it will play two games. After that, the Galaxy will make a three-game swing through South Korea and China.

Chances are Cronin will start the five games, making the preseason tour a test of sorts. If he flunks it, the Galaxy will scramble to find another starter, or at least an experienced backup, before the MLS season begins March 29.

Alexi Lalas, the team's president and general manager, said the matter was discussed when the Galaxy decided to trade last year's starter, Joe Cannon, to the San Jose Earthquakes.

"We sat down and said, 'If Steve Cronin is our No. 1 goalkeeper, are we comfortable that we're going to win?' Yes. 'Is he going to make mistakes because he's a younger goalkeeper and doesn't have a tremendous amount of experience?' Of course. But we were willing to take that risk and put our faith in him."

Nonetheless, Lalas said, Cronin should not assume anything.

"We have a lot of confidence in him, but we're not just going to give it to him," Lalas said. "He's going to have to work for it. We're going to bring in other players that we feel are going to challenge."

Cronin has enormous potential, something he showed as far back as 2003, when he was selected goalkeeper of the tournament as the U.S. finished fourth at the FIFA Under-20 World Championship in the United Arab Emirates.