JERSEY STRONG: U.S. women’s soccer star Carli Lloyd controls the ball last week in a training session at Princeton University. Lloyd, a New Jersey native and former Rutgers standout, has been enjoying the national squad’s training camp at Princeton’s Roberts Stadium, which is running from May 10-25. The U.S. team is gearing up for a May 27 game against China in Chester, Pa. and the upcoming Olympic Games. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

During her All-American soccer career at Rutgers University Carli Lloyd enjoyed some fierce battles against local rival Princeton.

“There was probably the most amount of yellow cards during our games,” said Lloyd, a 2005 Rutgers alum who has been playing with the U.S. women’s national team since graduation.

“It was an intrastate rival; it was a battle. You knew every time coming out that it wasn’t going to be an easy match. It was a good rivalry that we had against them. Princeton was a really strong team.”

For the last two weeks, Lloyd has been feeling at home on enemy territory as the U.S. national squad has been based at the Princeton soccer facilities for a training camp in preparation for a May 27 game against China in Chester, Pa. and the upcoming Olympic Games.

“This is great; this is a top-notch facility,” said star midfielder Lloyd, a 5’8 native of Delran standing on the sidelines of Roberts Stadium last Thursday after a morning training session.

“I think all the people working at Princeton have treated us really well; they have done  anything for us. Our hotel area is great. It is a perfect set-up. I think Pia [U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage] is really happy about it and hopefully we’ll have some more camps here in the future.”

After undergoing a grueling camp in Florida last month, Lloyd and her teammates are fine-tuning things during their stay at Princeton.

“It was a tough two-week camp in Florida but we made it through,” said Lloyd.

“This camp is a little bit longer but because there is a game attached at the end of it, I think that makes it a little bit easier. It’s tough with the roster cut so it is a pretty important camp. There is a lot going on; there is a lot of preparation before we move on to the next camp.”

With the U.S. team capturing international attention last summer in its dramatic run to the World Cup final where it lost to Japan in a penalty shootout, the players are hoping to shine in their next major competition.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted to at the World Cup and any time we can bounce back, and not so much have a second chance, but have another big event to show ourselves on the world stage, that’s great,” said Lloyd.

“We are going to waiting another three years after this Olympics for the next world cup. I am super excited. You never want to take anything for granted, you want to take it one game at a time. It is not going to be easy.”

It is going to be easy for the U.S. to get excited about playing in the English venues, which are among the most storied in world soccer.

“I think it is a privilege to even be considered to be able play in those stadiums,” said Lloyd, who was a key player on the U.S. gold
medal team in the 2008
Beijing Games.

“Wembley is such a prestigious stadium. Coming off a World Cup in Germany where they did a phenomenal job, I think we are going to get that same kind of vibe coming to London. They are pretty excited about soccer there.”

U.S. head coach Sundhage likes the vibe she is getting at the Princeton camp.

“Everything I have heard about Princeton has been fantastic; I wonder if it is that good but just look around with the turf and the real grass, it is hard to tell the difference,” said Sundhage, reflecting on the camp which was slated to run from May 10-25.

“I am very happy with the fact that we chose to stay here; they have been treating us well and it is a good feeling to be around this area.”

In Sundhage’s view, her players have been thriving in the Princeton environment.

“They are competing very well; I think the intersquad game that we played the other day was one of the best I have ever seen,” said Sundhage.

“They are really doing a good job to compete against each other; if we do a good job of that, we can win against any team in the world. They look very good.”

Lloyd, for her part, knows it is going to require a full team effort for the U.S. to defend its Olympic crown.

“I think it is going to take every one of us, all 18 players,” asserted Lloyd, who has 131 caps and 34 goals in her career with the national team.

“I don’t think there is a single star player on this team that is going to win it for us. We have got great talent. We have a great attacking front six and a solid back four and good people coming off that bench. We just have to play our game. We have to take some risks and we know we may give up some goals but we just have to score more than the other teams.”

The 30-year-old Lloyd is primed to make a big contribution to the U.S. attack.

“I am feeling really good; I am the fittest I have ever been,” said Lloyd, who has eight goals in 12 appearances this year for the U.S.

“I think my role has changed which had given me a little more freedom. Since Shannon Boxx is holding in the center midfield, I can run around and create things and be that playmaker and make things happen and get myself in and around the box for scoring opportunities.”

And having the opportunity to train at Princeton has proven to be a good fit for Lloyd and her teammates.