Move over Roy Lassiter.
OK, not quite yet, but if San Jose scoring machine Chris Wondolowski can keep up his torrid pace, he may just set a new MLS single-season record for goals scored.
The US international's hat trick on Saturday – against second-place Real Salt Lake, no less – made the Earthquakes the first team this season to reach the 40-point mark, pushed his league-lead in goals to 17 and earned him Player of the Week honors for Week 19.
Wondolowski's first hat trick of the season – and his fourth multi-goal game this campaign – was enough to impress The North American Soccer Reporters (see who and how the media voted here) and garner more votes than LA superstar David Beckham.
WATCH: Wondolowski completes hat trick
The 29-year-old forward also added an assist on Saturday night, prompting Shaun Schaffer of ColoradoSoccerNow.com to say that, "Wondolowski is having the sort of season that most players can only dream about. His hat trick in a 5-0 mashing of Real Salt Lake was just the latest evidence of his uncanny scoring prowess."
The Player of the Week award is the second of the season for Wondolowski – he earned his first in Week 9 – although he does have two Player of the Month nods already under his belt for April and June.
Wondolowski still has a ways to go before he can lock down the MLS single-season goals record, though, so Lassiter can breathe a little easier.
For now.
2012 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week 19: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 18: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
Week 17: Danny Koevermans (Toronto FC)
Week 16: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 13-15: Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact)
Week 12: Emilio Rentería (Columbus Crew)
Week 11: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Week 10: Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Week 9: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 8: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 7: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Week 6: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
Week 5: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 4: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 3: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 2: David Estrada (Seattle Sounders)
Week 1: Kalif Alhassan (Portland Timbers)
