World Cup star shares wisdom with Cape crowd

Cape Girardeau had a treat Monday when a World Cup soccer champion paid a visit to the Show Me Center as part of Southeast Missouri State University's Speaker Series.

Carli Lloyd, who snagged the coveted trophy in July with the historic distinction of scoring three goals in the championship match, is a member of the National Women's Soccer League and plays for the Houston Dash. She's also a two-time Olympic gold medalist who reminded the packed house (which included many young girls who were riveted to her every word) that accomplishments like hers rarely come easily.

"There's a lot of things that people don't see that's happening," she told the audience. "They see the goals, they see me on TV. But it's been a grind. It's been blood, sweat, tears, every day."

Even on her off days, Lloyd said she's thinking about the game because of her determination to play to the best of her ability.

"With all the success that I've had in my career, there's lots of ups and downs, and there's lots of tough moments that have shaped me. I think those tough moments is when I've learned a great deal -- more so than the successful moments," she told a Southeast Missourian reporter prior to her speaking engagement. "And it's just about working hard each and every day and having a dream and working on achieving that dream each and every day."

In other words, never give up.

Another piece of advice from Lloyd: Focus on yourself instead of comparing yourself to others. Realize some things just aren't about you, and adjust accordingly. Attitude is everything.

"I've had to learn that you have to control what you can control," she said. "There's so many things that are really out of your control."

Words to live by in sports, but, most of all, in life.