Carli Lloyd touched by tribute at The Mansion in Voorhees

VOORHEES – Although Carli Lloyd was cool and composed on the big stage of the World Cup, scoring three goals for the United States women’s soccer team in the gold medal win over Japan, she broke into tears when standing behind a podium Sunday during a tribute in her honor.

“I don’t usually cry,” Lloyd said, taking a deep breath. “This has topped everything. (Sunday) is the first time in two weeks that everything has sunk in.”

The former Delran High School star and her USA teammates have been the toast of the country since winning the World Cup on July 5, including a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in front of tens of thousands in New York City.

“I haven’t had much sleep the last two weeks, I’ve been running on fumes, it’s been a whirlwind,” Lloyd told the adoring crowd of 250 family and friends as well as youth players from the Medford Strikers and Universal Soccer Academy and their parents at The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees.

“I really looked forward to being here. This is my life. This is my home.”

The two-hour tribute included video of Lloyd’s hat trick in the 5-2 triumph over defending champion Japan. Each goal was accompanied by cheers. When Lloyd talked after a half-dozen speakers, her genuine goodness and appreciation were obvious by her tears.

“She really doesn’t cry,” said Kathy Sweet, who was a teammate with Lloyd at Delran. “That was surprising. I think it was overwhelming for her. This is when it hit her.”

James Galanis, who has been Lloyd’s personal trainer for 12 years, understood why the emotion flowed.

“The most important people in her life were at this event,” Galanis said. “The people who have been there for her over the years, the people who have helped shape her and give her the confidence that she could do this were all in this room.”

The event was hosted by the Medford Strikers and the Universal Soccer Academy.

“She is driven, but she also plays to make the people who love her happy,” Galanis said.

Galanis’ 9-year-old son, Preston, represented the young players at the Universal Soccer Academy, who Lloyd has touched by her hard work and humility, when he said, “We love Carli.”

Taylor Racioppi, 18, read part of an essay she wrote seven years ago about her “favorite soccer player of all time.”

“She embodies the passion of the game,” said Racioppi. “I was privileged to spend a little time training with Carli leading up to the World Cup.”

Liz Carberry, who is going to Villanova to play this fall, also trained with Lloyd.

“She was a role model on and off the field,” Carberry said. “I thank her for being a player we all can look up to.”

Chris Fletcher, whose son, Chris, and daughter, Lauren, train at the Universal Soccer Academy, said Lloyd was the hardest-working athlete on the field, was extremely honorable and caring and was always interacting with the kids.

“The content of her character is matched by her work ethic,” Fletcher said. “She is an American hero.”

John Johnson, Lloyd’s longtime attorney, called her kind, caring, compassionate and respectful.

“Carli Lloyd embellishes all the characteristics you want in a role model,” said Johnson, from Medford.

Former Olympian Heather Mitts also cried when talking about Lloyd, who scored the winning goals in the 2008 and ’12 Olympic gold medal games.

“I’m so proud of Carli,” Mitts said. “I know how hard she worked. I never met a teammate who was willing to work harder than Carli.

Galanis echoed everyone’s sentiment on Lloyd’s legendary work ethic.

“The final wasn’t won on July 5 when the world was watching Carli,” he said, “the final was one when no one was watching.”

Lloyd, who turned 33 last week, plans to play for another six years. She wants to compete in two more Olympics and one more World Cup.

“I want to be the best player in the world for the rest of my career,” said Lloyd, the Mental Toughness coach for the Medford Strikers.

Patrick Progar, the president of the Medford Strikers, said they will need to form a “Carli Celebration Committee” after he heard her goals.

“This is where my home is, it is the Universal Soccer Academy players and the Medford Strikers, my friends and family,” Lloyd said about the tribute. “Just watching the highlights gave me chills in my arms.

“It was a fantastic day. I am so thankful.”

Kevin Callahan; (856) 486-2424; kcallahan@GannettNJ.com