SANTA CLARA - Chris Wondolowski was awarded the San Jose Earthquakes MVP trophy Wednesday night. He needed a little less than an hour to remind the world why. The Chico State graduate netted his second hat trick of the year in just 50 minutes of action to move into a tie for first place in Major League Soccer with 17 goals on the season.

He's tied with World Cup participant Edson Buddle of the LA Galaxy in the race for the league's Golden Boot, awarded to the player with the most goals. He'll have a chance to earn that title when the Earthquakes wrap up their season in Missouri against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, according to Head Coach Frank Yallop. Buddle and the Galaxy finish the regular season against FC Dallas Sunday.

“My opinion, he is hands down the MVP of the league, because it’s not just the amount of goals he’s scored this year, but the importance of those goals,” Earthquakes starting keeper Jon Busch told goal.com. “Not to take anything away from any of the players in the league, but if you look at the nominations, and look at their importance to their team, hands down, Wondo has got to be it because without him we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Wondolowski has netted the game-winning goal in nine of the Earthquakes’ 13 wins, leading them to a 13-9-7 record and a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. He’s also reeled off nine consecutive goals for San Jose, tying an MLS record held by Carlos Ruiz, who achieved the feat over two seasons in 2002-03 with the Los Angeles Galaxy. And he broke the Earthquakes’ team record for goals Wednesday. Ronald Cerritos’ 15 goals in 1999 was the standard.

“Yes, for sure,” Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop told Goal.com when asked if Wondolowski is the league MVP. “For what he gives to the team, everyone is really happy for him. I’m not sure that all the MVPs that go through this league, everyone is happy for them. That’s the difference (with Wondolowski).”

Wondolowski was a talented midfielder for the Wildcats from 2001-2004. He scored 12 goals in 2002 and 12 more in 2003 while leading the Wildcats to the National Championship game. Earlier this season he took some time to greet the current Chico State men’s soccer team, in the Bay Area to see the Earthquakes between matches.