Obama Praises Carli Lloyd, Womens' National Team at White House

WTXF - It's a familiar sight for the president to welcome a championship sports team to the White House. But Tuesday, President Obama hosted a World Champion team- the World Cup-winning U.S. Womens' National Soccer Team.

Singled out specially for praise was Carli Lloyd, the South Jersey native who scored three goals in the tournament final against Japan. Obama joked that Lloyd's quick succession of goals in the match's opening minutes took away some of the drama.

"Of course, this victory required Carli Lloyd," the president said. "Now, Carli is no stranger to clutch performances; scored game-winners in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold Medal matches. So this year's final against Japan, she did it even better, scoring three goals in the first 16 minutes. Now, I have to say, first of all, I was explaining to the team and Carli that I had gotten my popcorn, I was all settling in. I'm thinking I've got a couple hours of tension and excitement -- and poof, it was gone. It was over."

The president also thanked the team for acting as a positive example to American girls.

"Playing like a girl means being the best. It means drawing the largest TV audience for a soccer match -- men or women's -- in American history. It means wearing our nation's crest on your jersey, taking yourself and your country to the top of the world. That's what American women do. That's what American girls do. That's why we celebrate this team. "