Here’s South Jersey’s Carli Lloyd leaving the field for the final time in a team USA jersey. She’s calling it a career at age 39:

That was a cool touch with the second jersey underneath. “Hollins” is her married name, so that’s a symbolic moment signifying her transition from playing career into retirement. Carli’s husband Brian Hollins is a golf pro and they’ve known each other since high school.

Lloyd has to go down as one of the best local exports ever, right? I’m not just saying that because I’m a soccer guy. You go down her resume and it’s insane.

Among her team and individual achievements:

  • 316 appearances for the United States
  • 134 international goals
  • 20+ year domestic club career
  • two World Cup titles
  • two Olympic gold medals
  • one Olympic bronze medal
  • six Algarve Cups
  • two CONCACAF women’s championships
  • four She Believes tournament wins
  • 2018 Tournament of Nations winner
  • 2016-2017 FA Cup winner
  • U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2008
  • FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist: 2012, 2015, 2016
  • FIFA Puskás Award Nominee: 2015
  • CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year: 2015
  • CONCACAF Goal of the Year: 2015
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2015
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup Silver Boot: 2015
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team: 2015
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup Dream Team: 2015
  • FIFA Women’s World Cup Goal of the Tournament: 2015
  • Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Team Sport Award: 2015
  • Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Nominee: 2015
  • IFFHS World’s Best Woman Playmaker: 2015
  • FIFA World Player of the Year: 2015
  • FIFPro World XI 2015, 2016
  • Nominee for 2016 ESPY Award for Best Championship Performance
  • The Best FIFA Women’s Player: 2016
  • Inductee into New Jersey Hall of Fame: 2017
  • IFFHS CONCACAF Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
  • IFFHS World’s Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
  • IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020

Carli’s story isn’t complicated, which is the best part about it. She just busted her ass from an early age and kept working to improve. She was all-state at Delran, all-Big East at Rutgers, and began making pro appearances while still a teenager. Nothing but hard work and perseverance from the most motivated woman east of the Delaware River.

This is probably a post for another time, but if you’re putting together a list of the best athletes to come from this region, who is included? Kobe, for sure. Mike Trout. Mike Piazza. B Hop. Joe Frazier. Marvin Harrison. Wilt. Carli’s very easily top-10, maybe top five. That list of achievements is incredible.