A South Jersey soccer star carried the United States Women’s National Team to World Cup glory Sunday with an unprecedented hat trick in a matter of minutes.
Carli Lloyd scored three times as the U.S. jumped to a four-goal lead in the first 16 minutes, and the Americans overwhelmed defending champion Japan 5-2 for the team's first World Cup championship since 1999.
"It's been a long journey, my career. I've had a lot of people believe in me, in my corner, from day one," said the midfielder, who turns 33 on July 16. "I've dedicated my whole life to this. Everything else comes second. But I wouldn't want to do it any other way."
Lloyd's three-goal performance, the first hat trick in a Women's World Cup final, played out in front of a sellout crowd of 53,341 that included U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
Lloyd, a native of Delran in in Burlington County, was awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. She scored six goals in seven matches during the monthlong tournament, including in every U.S. game in the knockout phase. She raised her international goals total to 69 and joined Carin Jennings in 1991 as the only Americans to win the Golden Ball.
She saved the best for last as she scored twice in a span of about 135 seconds as the U.S. led 2-0 by the fifth minute. Lauren Holiday boosted the lead in the 14th, and two minutes later Lloyd made it 4-0 with an audacious 54-yard, right-footed shot from midfield that sailed over goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori.
It was the fastest hat trick in World Cup history — men or women — and Lloyd became the first American since Michelle Akers in 1991 to score multiple goals in a World Cup final. The only other hat trick in a World Cup final was when England's Geoff Hurst scored three times against Germany in the men's 1966 final at Wembley.
"Miss Lloyd she always does this to us. In London she scored 2 goals and today she scored 3 goals. We are embarrassed," Japan coach Norio Sasaki said. "But she is an excellent player and I really respect her and admire her."
Lloyd's heroics also caught the eye of America's biggest fan:
What a win for Team USA! Great game @CarliLloyd! Your country is so proud of all of you. Come visit the White House with the World Cup soon. — President Obama (@POTUS) July 6, 2015
After the game Lloyd collapsed to her knees and pumped her fists.
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"Speechless. Honestly, I'm so proud of this team," she said. "This doesn't feel real. It hasn't sunk in. So unbelievably proud of every single person on this team. We just made history."
