Tampa - Kim Schumacher pounded the turf. Haylee Shoaff fell, her head in her hands and sobbed.

Even Cardinal Gibbons coach Margo Flack had a hard time fighting back tears.

Across the field at Pepin Stadium, there were so many reminders of just how much this hurt.

The Chiefs arrived at the state tournament-their first-expecting to make history. As the nation's top-ranked team, they were the favorite to win a state title.

But after 100 minutes of play and two rounds of penalty kicks, the Chiefs came up painfully short and it was Ponte Vedra that celebrated after a 1-0 (4-3 PK) win in the Class 4A state championship game.

"They did so much and they worked so hard for everything," Flack said. "They should be proud. It was a hard-fought match. I think it hurts for the seniors, but this is the group that brought us over the hump. They accomplished so much. Now they have to leave it to the next group."

There was little doubt on Saturday the Chiefs (29-1-2) were a strong team. Gibbons played with precision and had several impressive attacks against Ponte Vedra.

The Chiefs outshot the Sharks 11-6. They had three corner kicks to Ponte Vedra's one. Yet they couldn't capitalize and put the ball in the net.

Ponte Vedra, a first-year program that featured six players from last year's Nease team that won a state championship, took advantage, slowing down play and trying to keep Gibbons from finding its offensive rhythm.

The strategy paid off as regulation-and two overtimes-passed without a score.

After finishing the first round of penalty kicks tied at three, Sharks' sophomore Jackie Hellett took her shot and Shoaff, the Chiefs goalkeeper, didn't get there in time. As the ball sailed into the net, the celebration began on the Ponte Vedra (25-3-4) sideline. The winner came after Emily Vergo saved a Gibbons attempt.

Gibbons, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the Soccer Coaches Association of America, was stunned. Eventually, the focus shifted to all the Chiefs accomplished this season, becoming the first in school history to play for a title. With 16 players returning, seniors Jen Crittenberger and Nicole Grunwald expressed hope a new tradition had started at Gibbons.

"It's still sore, but we achieved so much this year," Crittenberger said. "I got mad at people who said win or lose we still made history. But I understand that now."

Added Grunwald, "I want to see this team win it next year."

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