Hat tricks are certainly not an unusual occurrence in soccer, but the three-goal effort from Orlando City rookie Cyle Larin in the team's loss to New York City FC on Sunday was notable for a couple reasons.
For one, it was only the eighth hat trick by a rookie, per the MLS Facts and Records Book, underscoring the promise that the No. 1 overall draft pick has shown this year.
Larin joins some pretty solid company on the list of rookies to hit a hat trick: Tesho Akindele (DAL, 8/16/14), Harry Shipp (CHI, 5/10/14), Kekuta Manneh (VAN, 10/9/13), Will Bruin (HOU, 4/29/11), Zach Schilawski (NE, 4/10/10), Pat Noonan (NE, 10/25/03), Brian Maisonneuve (CLB, 9/7/1996).
It also turns out that fans of expansion teams rarely get to see their team hit a hat trick, rookie or otherwise:
With nine goals to his name, Larin is now well within striking distance of the rookie record for MLS goals by a rookie. Damani Ralph had 11 for the Chicago Fire in 2003, leaving Larin needing just two goals in Orlando's remaing 13 games to match that mark.
