New Jersey Youth Soccer will be hosting its 30th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, February 2, with a very special guest on hand to deliver the keynote address to all of the NJYS players, coaches and staff in attendance. Two-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and New Jersey native Carli Lloyd will deliver the keynote for the event, which will take place at the Pines Manor in Edison, N.J.
“We are very excited to have Carli Lloyd deliver the keynote address at this year’s Awards Dinner,” said Evelyn Gill, NJ Youth Soccer President. “Carli is a player who serves as an incredible role model for young athletes throughout the world, and particularly here in her home state of New Jersey. February 2nd is sure to be an incredible night, and having Carli with us will make it even more special.”
Lloyd grew up in Delran, N.J., and played her college soccer at Rutgers University. She made her debut for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2005, and she is now approaching 250 international caps and 100 international goals. Historically, Lloyd has been known to rise tallest on the grandest of stages, scoring the game-winning goal in the Gold Medal Match of both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She was also responsible for one of the most phenomenal performances in FIFA Women’s World Cup history when she registered a hat trick in the opening 16 minutes of the 2015 Final against Japan. She finished the competition with six goals and received the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, which was the first FIFA Women’s World Cup championship for the U.S. WNT since 1999. She capped off 2015 by being voted the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, again winning FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year accolades in 2016. She was also voted the runner-up to the award in 2017.
In addition to her early roots as a player, Lloyd also shares another direct connection to NJ Youth Soccer. For the past 15 years, her personal coach has been James Galanis, who is Technical Director of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program (ODP).
“I am honored for the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech at this year’s New Jersey Youth Soccer Awards Dinner,” said Lloyd. “I was once in the same seat as all of the young athletes I will be addressing, and I hope that my message is one that can resonate with them and inspire them to chase their goals. If you fully commit to your dreams, there is nothing that can stop you from achieving them. I look forward to speaking with the players and gaining some inspiration of my own from hearing about their personal journeys.”
Lloyd will now be returning home to New Jersey for the 2018 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season, recently joining Sky Blue FC after the team made a trade to acquire her from the Houston Dash. Lloyd and Sky Blue FC will open their 2018 preseason in February and then kick-off the regular season in March.
To find out more information about New Jersey Youth Soccer or to contact us directly, please email communications@njyouthsoccer.com. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer
