A hot start to the season has the Liberty boys soccer team asking itself a simple question: Why not us?

If the Patriots (2-1-1 overall, 1-0-1 KingCo 3A/2A) can win the KingCo 3A/2A, they would earn a coveted berth directly into the state tournament.

“Our league is really tight,” said Liberty coach Darren Tremblay. “Every game is going to be close. … That No. 1 spot is huge.”

Liberty opened league play with a 2-2 tie against Mercer Island and a 3-1 win against Mount Si. The Islanders and Wildcats were the league’s two top teams last season.

But the talk of state is way down the road. For now Tremblay’s focus is on maintaining momentum.

Sophomores Joe Dapper and Jared Bales have been big for the team in the middle on defense. Both are talented and Bales made the Seattle Sounders Developmental Team. Sophomore Nick Turner is also a key on defense.

“You kind of worry about a sophomore playing high school sometimes,” Tremblay said. “If a team has a ton of seniors, they’re basically playing two years up from what they’ve been used to in club. But they’ve been excellent.”

Liberty has more experience up front where senior Aaron Potoschnik is leading the team in goals. Potoschnik played defender last season and made the move to forward during the club season.

Other players to watch at midfielder and foward are Blake Kessler, Eric Warlick and Josh Muttart.

Tremblay said this team’s makeup is unique in that most of the players compete on just two club teams. The sophomores on back all play on the same club. The seniors up front play on a different club team, but they all play together.

“Usually your guys are scattered on club teams all over the place,” he said. “To bring them together in a 10-week season is tough. … Our starting lineup has all played together. That’s huge because they know each other.”

Finishing games will be the team’s focus this season. Liberty led Mercer Island until the Islanders scored a goal with a minute and a half left in the game March 18.

“We have to learn how to finish a game,” Tremblay said. “Mentally probably even more than physically.”

Liberty last won the KingCo in 1999 and last went to state in 2002.