Union head coach Jim Curtin congratulate Serigio Santos after his hat-trick. (Bill Streicher | Imagn)

Philadelphia Union forward Sergio Santos Monday was voted the Major League Soccer player of the week for the 20th week of the MLS season.

Santos recorded a hat-trick in 69 minutes played to help Philadelphia secure a dominant 5-0 win over Toronto FC at Subaru Park Saturday night. Santos has scored seven goals this season, tied for 12th-most in the league and most on the Union. Philadelphia (12-3-5, 41 points) is tied for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute when Santos finished a Kai Wagner cross with a header into the back right of the net (watch goal). Following two additional Union goals, Santos increased the lead to 4-0 in the 63rd minute, this time finishing another Wagner cross into the box with a left footed shot (watch goal).

Santos capped a tremendous match with his first career MLS hat-trick to give the Union a decisive 5-0 advantage in the 68th minute. Brenden Aaronson led the Union on a breakaway and found Santos open in front of goal, where the 26-year-old Brazilian finished with a deft left footed touch past the goalkeeper (watch goal).

Philadelphia continues action this week when hosting Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and traveling to face Columbus Crew SC on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC / TSN).

The MLS player of the week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.