In an announcement that surprised nobody, Carli Lloyd was named US Soccer Female Player of the Year.
Lloyd, who guided the US to glory at 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, became the first female player to score a hat trick in the World Cup final in a 5-2 win over Japan last summer. She also scored just two minutes and 34 seconds into that contest, the fastest goal in a World Cup final ever. The 33-year-old New Jersey native also scored an amazing goal from midfield in the final and was the team's star throughout the tournament with her well-timed finishes and leadership.
"It an absolute honor to be named the US Soccer Player of the Year, but when you look at the players nominated this year, it's obvious that all of them were deserving of the award,"Lloyd said. "I want to thank everyone who voted for me, but more so everyone who supported the team this year, especially at the World Cup, as playing in front of those crowds in Canada was a special experience for all of us. Of course, I'm so thankful to my amazing teammates and coaches. We all know any individual award is a product of the team and I'm so proud of how everyone stepped up this year. It took all 23 players and support staff to win the World Cup and it was just fantastic to be a part of it all."
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