2015 FIFA Women's World Cup: Carli Lloyd's Determination Fuels US Victory
The midfielder scored three goals in the game's first 16 minutes.
— -- Carli Lloyd experienced the game of her life Sunday.
The midfielder scored three goals -- in the first 16 minutes -- of the Women’s World Cup final, leading the United States to a 5-2 victory against Japan. The win marks the United States’ first Women’s World Cup title since 1999, when Lloyd was an up-and-coming high school soccer player in New Jersey.
"I've dedicated my whole life to this," Lloyd told reporters following the victory. "And everything [else] comes second. But I wouldn't have it any other way."
Lloyd, 32, began playing soccer at age 5, her mother Pam said in a 1999 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“At that age, it was co-ed, and Carli was hanging with the boys,” Pam Lloyd said. “She always loved it and showed a lot of ability from an early age, but she also has always worked hard.'”
Lloyd attended Delran High School and Rutgers University, and has represented the United States in three World Cups: 2007, 2011 and 2015. She has also participated in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, helping the United States win gold medals in each games.
Lloyd has previously credited her two goals in the 2012 Olympic final against Japan as her best moment.
But that was before Sunday’s World Cup final. Her first goal Sunday came in the third minute on a perfectly timed run on a corner kick. The second goal came minutes later, off a deflection on a free kick.
Her third goal came from midfield, when she caught goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori off-guard -- securing the fastest hat trick in World Cup history. Lloyd, speaking to ABC News, said she was committed to doing whatever it took to win the World Cup.
"We didn’t come here to take second place. We came here to win it, and there was something different in the air with these last few games with our team," she said. "I think we all believed. We all knew it. We felt it and what a convincing win today to get it done."
Lloyd won the Golden Ball on Sunday as the tournament’s best player. All six of Lloyd’s goals came in knockout rounds.
Following the victory, President Obama congratulated Lloyd and her teammates on Twitter.
“What a win for Team USA! Great game @CarliLloyd!” he wrote. “Your country is so proud of all of you. Come visit the White House with the World Cup soon.”
The level of support -- for herself and the United States -- was still sinking in for Lloyd Sunday night.
"It took all 23 players to get this done, from the coaching staff to the players to our support staff, we all believed in one thing," she said. "We believed in making it to the final, winning the final. We stayed true to everything we believed in. We executed the game plan and we got it done."
ESPN.com contributed to this report.
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