New Jersey Native's Record Hat Trick Propels U.S. Women to World Cup Title

On Sunday night, the difference between the U.S. women’s national soccer team and Japan was Carli Lloyd.

The Delran native made history with a hat trick in the team’s 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. She won the Golden Ball and Silver Boot. For the United States, it was its third World Cup title, having also won titles in 1991 and 1999.

Lloyd’s first goal came off a corner kick three minutes into the game. She scored again in the fifth minute, and again in the 16th with an incredible kick from midfield that found the back of the net.

Lauren Holiday and Tobin Heath scored the other two goals. Goalie Hope Solo needed to make just three saves in the final.

Lloyd’s hat trick was the fastest in FIFA World Cup history, men or women’s. She was also the first American to score in four straight World Cup games, including wins over Germany, China and Colombia.

She had six goals in seven matches. She had three consecutive game-winning goals.

In addition to this World Cup, she scored game-winning goals in the Olympic Gold Medal Game in both 2008 and 2012.

Lloyd played college soccer at Rutgers University. She is the University’s all-time leading scorer.

“She will go down in history as one of the greatest, most clutch players to ever player for our country,” Rutgers head coach Mike O’Neill said in a statement released by the University Sunday night. O’Neill coached Lloyd at Rutgers from 2001-04.

Yuki Ogimi ended the the U.S. team’s record-tying run without allowing a goal in a single World Cup at 540 minutes with a goal in the game’s 27 minute. The United States was six seconds away from breaking the record set by Germany in 2007.

Julie Johnston’s own goal accounted for Japan’s other score.

The attached image of Carli Lloyd is a Patch file photo