Carli Lloyd Nets Hat Trick, USWNT Routs Haiti in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM – Carli Lloyd can't stop scoring.

Propelled by her first-half hat trick, the United States produced another rout on its Women's World Cup Victory Tour, extending its home unbeaten streak to 100 games in an 8-0 win over Haiti Sunday afternoon.

"It's been remarkable because she's not only playing with her club but making all these appearances," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. "To put back-to-back performances with our team – she's just a great professional. She's so mentally strong that regardless of the opponent, regardless of the surface, she just takes the same approach. That's a high standard that she has for herself, and yet she wants to deliver for her teammates."

For Lloyd, it marks the second time in four days that she's scored a hat trick against Haiti, following the Americans' 5-0 win in Detroit on Thursday. She also memorably found net three times against Japan in a 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final in July.

Like in the victory over Japan, Lloyd scored all three goals in the first half of play. Two goals came on headers, in the 22nd and 39th minutes, with her first coming on a penalty kick in the 16th minute after Alex Morgan was taken down in the box. Her Thursday hat trick also came on two headers and a penalty.

Overall, she's scored 16 goals in 2015, breaking her previous high of 15 set in 2012 and 2014.

"I think kind of this next phase of my career is create opportunities and put them away, do whatever I can to help the team," said Lloyd, 33, who was replaced by Amy Rodriguez at the start of the second half. "Whether it's kind of a toe poke, or a flicked header that ends up going into the back of the net, a goal's a goal and I just want to do everything possible to win games."

Sunday's game marked just the fourth time the U.S. has played in the state of Alabama (all at Legion Field), with the last coming in a 5-4 win over Australia on May 3, 2008 in front of a crowd of 5,000.

Against Haiti, however, the fourth game in a 10-game Victory Tour spanning the U.S. in celebration of the U.S.'s third World Cup title this past summer, 35,753 fans filled the historic Legion Field stands, the largest ever for a standalone women's national team match in the southeastern United States.

"They’re genuine fans,” Ellis said. “It’s not casual fans, and they came dressed out, kitted out, ready to go. I think our reception everywhere has been very good. It’s so funny I think the players have commented that here it’s, ‘May I have an autograph, please, ma’am?’ It’s really polite.”

The U.S. outshot Haiti, 39-0, including 19 on goal, one game after besting them 40-0 in that category.

Center back Julie Johnston opened the scoring 53 seconds into the match when Kelley O’Hara found her at the near post on a short corner kick. Crystal Dunn, who was among the final cuts for the World Cup team but was added to the roster ahead of last Thursday’s game, scored her second goal in two games when she was played in on goal by Megan Rapinoe in the 17th minute.

Rodriguez, Alex Morgan and Heather O'Reilly added second-half goals to extend the U.S.'s 5-0 halftime lead. Rodriguez's goal, a left-footed blast from well outside the 18 in the 51st minute, made her the 19th player to score 30 goals with the national team.

O’Hara and Rapinoe both had two assists, with Morgan and Whitney Engen also adding one assist apiece.

Of the 18 players on Haiti's roster, 16 players were born 1993 or later. The Haitians' oldest player was 30-year-old starting goalkeeper Ednie Limage.

The U.S. hasn't lost at home since a 3-1 decision against Denmark on Nov. 6, 2004 in Philadelphia.

The Americans will face a tougher test when they host Brazil in Seattle and Orlando in October.

During the pregame player introductions, Tobin Heath was recognized for earning her 100th cap, which she achieved on Aug. 19 against Costa Rica in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Heath, who was out Sunday with an ankle injury, is the 33rd American female to play 100 times for her country.

Christen Press, who scored in Thursday's win, missed Sunday's game to attend a family wedding.

Megan Rapinoe gave a special shoutout to Birmingham after the game:

A few photos from the game:

See highlights of the game from U.S. Soccer: