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:
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.