Carli Lloyd, who made history Sunday as the first player to register a hat trick in a World Cup final, says she and her teammates will "savor and cherish" the occasion for years to come.
"It just didn't feel real," Lloyd told TODAY's Matt Lauer Monday. "I don't know if it was because of the fashion, how it was a 5-2 game. It was unbelievable.''
Lloyd scored all three of her goals in the first 15 minutes to send the United States to a 5-2 win over Japan in Vancouver. The victory dethroned the defending World Cup champions, and handed the U.S. its first title since 1999.
Lloyd, who also scored two goals against Japan in a victory in the 2012 Olympic final in London, scored her first goal only three minutes into the game and later added a sensational goal from midfield in the 15th minute to complete the hat trick.
"I just went for it,'' she said.
Lloyd's heroics helped the U.S. set a record for the most goals scored in a Women's World Cup final and finish the tournament unbeaten.