2018 had been a rough year for Jiro Barriga Toyama. After graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University, he went on trial for Minnesota United, but didn’t make the team. Things got worse when Barriga Toyama picked up a shoulder injury, which left him out of the game for seven months due to surgery. His chances of starting a pro career looked slim.

Earlier this year, though, Barriga Toyama got another chance. He was invited, once again, to train with Minnesota United. On Jan. 29, when Minnesota opened its preseason schedule with a friendly against USL League One side FC Tucson, Barriga Toyama was there, sitting on the bench, waiting his turn.

In the second half, with the Loons up 2-1, Barriga Toyama came onto the field. There was one problem, though: he had been told to line up as a left-sided winger, when he’d been playing as a left back for the past two years. Undeterred, Barriga Toyama pressed forward. This was his chance, and he had to make something of it no matter the circumstances.

“I didn’t get nervous,” he said. “I just focused on what Coach (Adrian Heath) told me to do.”

Early in the second half, Barriga Toyama made a late run into the 18-yard box and kicked out at a loose ball. Incredibly, he’d scored a goal. Then, suddenly, he got another opportunity, and Barriga Toyama evaded the defenders and scored again. Two goals. Finally, late in the game, he made a long run into the box again, opening up space. Barriga Toyoma received a hard-hit pass, took one touch to move it in front of him, opened up his hips, and scythed it into the far corner of the goal. His third of the match.

“Before the game, I didn’t think about scoring a hat trick,” Barriga Toyoma said. “I was just surprised when I scored the third goal.”