Madison Parsons' collegiate soccer "playing" career had consisted of one redshirt season, two knee surgeries, and a season lost to COVID-19 before this year. She hasn't let it slow her down off the pitch. On the pitch, she's quickly making up for lost time. Parsons posted a hat trick in three minutes and four seconds Saturday—the fastest in Chico State women's soccer history—to lift the Wildcats to a 4-1 win against Fresno Pacific at University Soccer Stadium.
 
The three-goal effort is the 12^th in Chico State women's soccer history and the first since Katherine Bagwell's in 2006. She's the eighth Chico State player to accomplish the feat.
 
Parsons is reaching goals off the field as well. The sophomore (by athletic eligibility) expects to graduate this spring with her degree in accounting and then pursue a graduate degree. She already has a job at a Chico investment firm.
 
Sarah Emigh scored the Wildcats' first of four first-half goals on the way to their second straight runaway victory. They beat Holy Names 10-0 Monday. Ironically, neither Parsons or Emigh were among the eight goal scorers in that match. The Wildcats' 14 goals this week were scored by 10 different players.
 
Parsons, whose first collegiate goal came in the team's 3-1 win at Biola in their second match of the season, wound up with the most goals this week and tied Susanna Garcia for most on the team this season, despite coming off the bench Saturday.
 
She was summoned into the match in the 28^th minute and started her scoring spree about four minutes later. Kelli Litchfield ran down a cross just outside the edge of the 18-yard box, and while shielding a defender, pushed a left-footed pass to Parsons posted up just atop the six-yard box. Parsons one-timed it over the keeper and into the top shelf for a 2-0 lead.
 
Just 18 seconds of play later, Parsons was at it again. Natalie Mendoza poked a ball away from a Fresno Pacific player toward the left sideline where Susanna Garcia gave an inside fake but played the ball to herself down the line instead. That gave her space to advance with the dribble all the way to the 18-yard box near the touch line before ripping a pass that met Parsons on top of the 6-yard box. Directly in front of the post, Parsons shielded off her defender and extended her left boot to squeeze a shot between the post and the keeper for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats' fourth goal—Parson's third—ended a mad scramble in which two balls were saved off the line before Parsons got her foot on a bouncing ball and poked it home for her third goal in 3:04—nearly doing the splits in the process. Litchfield played Martinez down the right flank to set things up, and her cross reached the far post at the same time as two Wildcats attackers and two Fresno Pacific defenders. The ball nearly deflected in but a Sunbirds defender saved it off the line. It rolled to Litchfield at the penalty spot, but her try was also saved off the line. This time it rolled to Parsons, who connected with the back of the net.
 
 
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the 11^th minute. Again, Martinez and Lidster put things in motion.
 
Kylie Martinez stepped in and poked an attempted Sunbirds' pass to Camille Lidster in space 25 yards out from the goal. Lidster turned and attacked with the dribble, only to be taken down just above the circle on top of the 18-yard box, which drew a foul call. Jordan Doukakis ripped the free kick on frame that the goalkeeper went down to stop, but it bounded a few feet in front of her. Meanwhile, Emigh, crossed the face of the  defender who was attempted to mark her and gained a step as she sped toward the ball face when the shot was taken and sprinted toward the mouth of the goal, beating the defender and the sprawling keeper to the ball and sliding inside the left post.
 
 
Parsons finished with a match-high six shots and Chico State out-shot Fresno Pacific 31-6.
 
The Wildcats will wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule next Saturday at Humboldt State. They'll return home to face Cal State San Bernardino in the California Collegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams on Friday, October 1, at 7 p.m. That match is the second of a men's-women's doubleheader at University Soccer Stadium. They'll also host Cal State San Marcos that Sunday.

BACK THE 'CATS! CHAMPIONS IN COMPETITION; CHAMPIONS IN THE CLASSROOM; CHAMPIONED BY YOU!
 
University Soccer Stadium Health and Safety Protocols
Thank you for supporting our student-athletes! Please be aware of the following health and safety measures for intercollegiate athletic events held on the campus of Chico State:

• Venue capacity is limited to 50% of the listed capacity for each facility.
• Spectators must follow campus health and safety guidelines: symptom check and mask indoors; mask outdoors where physical distancing cannot be achieved.
• Spectators will be limited to seating areas (bleachers and stands).
• At the end of the competition, spectators are asked to leave the venue immediately and wait outside the venue to greet participants.
• No spectators are allowed in team areas, including the playing area, bench, hallways, athletic training room, locker rooms, etc.