Carli Lloyd will have a lot to say at the NJ Youth Soccer awards dinner. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. ― Carli Lloyd will give the keynote address at the New Jersey Youth Soccer’s 30th annual awards dinner at Pines Manor Friday, Feb. 2.

Lloyd, who was acquired by Sky Blue FC in a mega-trade last week, is a two-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, 2015 Women’s World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist.

“We are very excited to have Carli Lloyd deliver the keynote address at this year’s awards dinner,” NJ Youth Soccer president Evelyn Gill said. “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. Feb. 2 is sure to be an incredible night, and having Carli with us will make it even more special.”

Lloyd, who grew up in Delran, N.J., played her college soccer at Rutgers University. She made her debut for the U.S. women’s national team in 2005. She is approaching 250 international caps and 100 goals. Lloyd scored the game-winning goal in the gold edal match of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She was also responsible for one of the most phenomenal performances in Women’s World Cup history, registering 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. She capped off 2015 by being voted the FIFA top women’s player, earning the award the next year.

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.

“I am honored for the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech at this year’s New Jersey Youth Soccer Awards Dinner,” Lloyd said. “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.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.