LA VERNE — Think about your greatest athletic performance: A walk off home run in little league, a 2-minute drill to win the State Championship, a buzzer beater from half court or the best round of golf you shot with your three best friends that included an eagle or even a hole in one.

Oxy freshman men's soccer striker Tod Kawada probably now has one better.

It was just 13 minutes into a regular season NCAA Division III SCIAC men's soccer game at the University of La Verne when Kawada Kawada scored his third goal of the season under the lights at Ortmayer Stadium on Sept. 22.

No big deal.

Then he added a second goal just 40 seconds later.

Very impressive, but still nothing to write home about if you're not Kawada or one of the many Tiger faithful that have watched the team's improvement this year that has them in the SCIAC playoff mix.

But then Kawada scored another goal — his third of the game — with just 59 seconds elapsing on the game clock. He accomplished the rare hat trick and it took less than 1 minute from start to finish.

We checked the record books, blogs and asked every soccer guru we could find and no one has heard of a player completing such a feat in less time.

Imagine Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout hitting for the cycle in the first inning. It seems that impossible.

The tape has been sent to ESPN in Bristol, Conn.

"I've played professionally on three continents, managed a number of different teams at the college, club and Olympic Development Program level for 23 years and I can't recall something like this," Oxy director of soccer Colm McFeely said, who coaches Oxy's women's team. "It's one if those spectacular performances that a player remembers forever."

Granted, it wasn't on television and it's worth noting that during international soccer the clock continues to run, whereas in college soccer in America it stops.

But for Kawada and Oxy, the game is as memorable as they come.

"I couldn't believe that the chances came so quickly," said Kawada, who attended the American School in Tokyo. "It was by far the best thing I've done in my career. I told my friends back home and they couldn't beleive it. There was definitely a lot of luck involved."

The Tokyo, Japan native is in a new country and he may have done something no man or woman has accomplished anywhere the global game is played.

"We just kept pressing their center backs and I was in the right place at the right time," Kawada said.

If the hat trick wasn't enough, Kawada assisted on Oxy's fourth goal to break a 3-3 tie and added his fourth goal of the match later in the second half to give the Tigers a 5-3 win.

Four goals and an assist would be an impressive stat line for any SCIAC soccer player at the conclusion of the entire season, let alone one game.

"While what Tod did was amazing to say the least, he's the type of player that causes so much danger that he always has a good game whether he scores or not," Oxy head coach Rod Lafaurie said. "Against La Verne, he did something historical. Our team has enjoyed his accomplishment together and we couldn't be prouder to have Tod as a member of the Oxy soccer community."

Goals and hat tricks haven't been scarce this season for Oxy's men's team either. Alessandro Carotenuto became the second Oxy player to score three in a game this season with a trio of penalty scores in a 6-4 win over Chapman last Wednesday and the Tigers have scored 11 as a team in their last two games. 

Kawada's outburst is big news for Occidental, which has enjoyed watching the men's and women's teams get off to good starts with plenty to brag about and quality players to build around in the future.

The Oxy men's team is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in conference with first place Claremont-Mudd-Scripps coming to Los Angeles for a showdown on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Jack Kemp stadium. If the Tigers win, they'll likely be in the driver's seat for a coveted top-four spot.

The Oxy's women's team has been as impressive too with a handful of standout players leading their quality start.

The Tiger women started off 4-0 and have an important conference home game on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. All students will be wearing black and eating pizza as a part of a Game of the Week promotion.

Sophomore Julie Khil leads the team in goals with three goals, and an assist and was named the SCIAC Female Student-Athlete of the Week after a pair of goals and an assist last week.

Oxy's back line of Abigial Mitchell, Taryn Ng, Stephanie Welty, Kelsey Hung, Samantha Morrill and Anissa Raja and goalie Dallas Gunny have been solid, allowing just four goals in six games so far this season. Offensive weapons Camille Shrager and Michaela Tsuha have combined for five goals and four assists between them.

Both Oxy squads have work to do, but it's an exciting time for soccer at Occidental.

"Rod has done a really good job with building a talented squad and you can see the progress in the results and their performances," McFeely said. "I think they have a great chance of making the the top four and playing for the automatic bid. Our women have a good blend and are committed to raising the level and standard of the program. They are talented, exciting to watch and are right there for a shot at the top four and a crack at the NCAA bid from the conference as well."