The Rutgers graduate would go on to score the game-winning goal in the 56th minute against France, the third of four unanswered goals the team had in the come from behind win. In the next game against Colombia, Lloyd scored her fourth career Olympic goal.
As a defensive central midfielder however, the Delran native is generally tasked with controlling the possession and tempo of the game.
"I am really enjoying this role," Lloyd said in an e-mail Wednesday. "I'm defending well, keeping the flow of the game, being the playmaker and anchoring the midfield. I've focused a lot on being consistent and having solid games."
While Lloyd is most known for her goal-scoring abilities and creating offensive opportunities, her most important role for the team may be the defensive one she played Monday, especially in the latter stages of the thrilling semifinal victory over Canada where the Americans trailed on three separate occasions.
"It's funny because we went down a goal and everyone remained calm," Lloyd said. "We knew the chances would come and we would take advantage of it. Going down three times is crazy and that's what's special about this team. We never give up and we find a way to get it done."
For a corner kick late in the game, goalkeeper Hope Solo put Lloyd on Canadian forward Christine Sinclair, who scored three earlier goals for her side. Sinclair had proved herself to be dangerous in the air all match, having scored two headers, one coming off a set piece.
Lloyd remained on Sinclair for the remainder of regulation, as well as for both 15-minute periods of overtime where Sinclair and the rest of the Canadian squad remained scoreless.
James Galanis, director of soccer operations at Universal Soccer Academy and Lloyd's trainer for almost a decade, calls Lloyd's improvement on the defensive side of the ball a part of the long-term plan the two have been working on.
"She's dominant in the air and she's really worked hard at improving her defensive game," said the former coach of the now-defunct Atlanta Beat, a Women's Professional Soccer team. "She used to dive into tackles and over the last year we've worked on her getting down low and timing the tackles a lot better than what she used to."
As for the way she stepped up on one of the best forwards in the world?
"She put Sinclair in her back pocket, "Galanis said.
Boxx has previously been listed as day to day and was planning on playing against New Zealand in the quarterfinals. Although she hasn't seen time since the Olympic opener with her experience and well-rested legs she could see time in the Olympic final when the Americans face off against the World Cup champions, Japan.
Japan is the only team to beat Pia Sundhage's squad in 2012. In March, the Japanese won, 1-0, in group play during the Algarve Cup, while the two teams played to a 1-1 tie a little less than a month later. In June, the national team defeated Japan, 4-1, the first time it defeated its rival since May of 2011.
The familiarity with the Japanese side gives Lloyd confidence heading into the final, with her keys to victory creating high pressure, playing physical, dominating battles in the air, and making sure to finish off crosses.
Thursday's game will be Lloyd's 141st appearance with the national team while her 38 career goals are second on the current roster to only Abby Wambach.
The national team has appeared in all five gold medal games in the history of Olympic women's soccer, having won the gold on three separate occasions dating back to 1996. The team's only defeat came in 2000 in a loss to Norway.
"The pressure is on them," Lloyd said of Japan. "They are world champions and we are going to bring it to them."
"We won't let this one slip away."
