Originally published November 12, 2014 at 9:48 PM | Page modified November 12, 2014 at 9:54 PM

RENTON Makena Carr finally may be getting comfortable up top.

The Liberty freshman hadnt played forward in more than a year. But she moved from her comfortable center-midfield slot for the Patriots.

The change has paid off big, including during a 4-1 rout of No. 10 Sehome in a first-round 2A girls state soccer victory on Wednesday. The Patriots (9-5-1) next will face Shorecrest, a 4-0 winner over Black Hills, likely on Saturday at Liberty.

Carr scored a hat trick (three goals), beginning in the third minute of the contest, to lead a dominating performance from Liberty.

Weve talked about starting games quickly, Liberty coach Tami Nguyen said. My team has done a great job of that the last couple of games.

Carr was the recipient of a well-placed ball from Laurie Willoughby that looped over her in the middle of the field just as things were getting started. Carr drove to 10 yards and beat Sehome (11-6-1) goalie Nicole Carlson with a hard line drive shot less than three minutes into the contest.

That attack was just the beginning of a dominant first half by the Patriots, who put eight shots on goal to Sehomes three over the first 40 minutes.

For my club, I used to play forward, Carr said. When (Coach Nguyen) put me up top, I just started to get it back.

Carr got her second of the night on a long run down the right side of the 18-yard box. She beat a Mariner defender and sliced a low ball across the goalmouth and just inside the left post for a 2-0 lead just over a minute before the half.

Read more:

Liberty routs Sehome in first round of Class 2A girls soccer playoffs