Rutgers women's soccer legend Carli Lloyd took her place among the United States greats on Saturday, when she was formally inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas.
The 42-year-old Lloyd, who led the United States women's national team to two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals and who was twice named by FIFA as the best women's player on the planet, was elected in a first-ballot landslide. Lloyd was enshrined along with longtime Major Leage Soccer deputy commissioner Mark Abbot, former USMNT standouts Chris Armas and Nick Rimando and former goalkeeper Mary Harvey, who won a World Cup and an Olympic gold with the USWNT in the 1990s. Legendary broadcaster Bob Ley was also inducted.
Despite spending much of her 17-year international career as a midfielder, her 134 goals rank six all-time at the highest level, men's or women's. Lloyd scored the winning goal for her country at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and netted an unforgettable hat trick in the 2015 Women's World Cup final, snapping a 16-year title drought for the most successful program in history. Only two players, men or women, appeared in more international matches than Lloyd's 316.
During her time "On the Banks" from 2001-04, the Delran, N.J.-native midfielder garnered All-America recognition twice, All-Region status four times, and BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year accolades, all while etching her name at No. 1 all-time in the Rutgers career record books in points (117) and goals (50), as well as points (37) and goals (15) on the single-season charts.
Lloyd began her storied career by guiding the Scarlet Knights to the Sweet Sixteen in what was the program's second-ever NCAA Tournament bid in 2001. As a freshman, Lloyd led Rutgers in shots (78), goals (15), and points (37), setting the precedent for her next three seasons "On the Banks." Her standout play helped RU to another NCAA bid in 2003, when Lloyd notched 13 goals and 28 points.
Lloyd was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.
