Carli Lloyd Scores Hat Trick in U.S. Win

United States’ Carli Lloyd celebrates after scoring her third goal against Japan during the first half of the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Carli Lloyd dominated the biggest stage in women’s soccer.

The Delran native scored a hat trick in the first 16 minutes of Sunday’s championship game against Japan, leading the United States Women’s National Team to its first FIFA Women’s World Cup title since 1999, five tournaments ago.

This newest championship is also the third for the U.S. women’s team, the most World Cup victories in the history of the women’s tournament.

The U.S. team scored four goals in those first 16 minutes (the other coming from Lauren Heath in the 14th minute), opening up an insurmountable lead. The United States team is notable for its defensive excellence, with goalie Hope Solo having allowed only three goals over the tournament, which started on June 8th, including two in the title game.

But Sunday, Lloyd and the U.S. offense started aggressively, scoring themselves to a very comfortable lead. Japan scored once in the first half and once in the second half, but neither of those goals presented a threat to the U.S.’s chances. The closest Japan came was within two goals, after the U.S.’s Julie Johnston accidentally kicked a ball past Hope Solo for an own goal, making it 4-2 early in the second half.

But Tobin Heath, involved in much of the action early in the game, answered back with an insurance goal two minutes later, effectively sealing the win for the United States.

Lloyd also just barely missed a fourth goal, which would have made her the first player ever — man or woman — to score four goals in a World Cup Final.

During a jubilant awards ceremony recognizing the tournament’s best players, goalie Hope Solo was again given the Golden Glove for best goalkeeping. Lloyd won the Silver Boot, recognizing the tournament’s second-best scorer, and the Golden Ball, solidifying her status as the World Cup’s best player.

Lloyd goes back to Delran with a major award, a record-setting performance, and perhaps the admiration of an entire country.

Oh, and finally, a World Cup championship.

View Lloyd’s hat trick goals below:

3rd minute:

https://vine.co/v/enWVErYr0jJ/embed

5th minute:

https://vine.co/v/enWYTUnMvvV/embed

16th minute:

https://vine.co/v/en7BpeVdT7D/embed

[h/t Bleacher Report]