By Official Florida FC
Ponte Vedra used a second-minute goal from Katie DeVincentis and a second-half rocket from Lulu Consunjito win its second straight FHSAA Class 5A state championship. The 2-1 win over Miami Lourdes Academy on Feb. 22 in Auburndale helped the youthful Sharks finish 17-3-2.
Ponte Vedra soccer coach Dave Silverberg says finals can be decided by small things and his players were on the right side of things on Saturday.
“They battled some odds. …They believed in themselves incredibly. No matter what happened bad, they were fine. It’s not like a cocky thing, or an arrogant thing, it was confidence. It was we got this, we got this, we got this.”
Ponte Vedra lost to Montverde Academy and North Fort Myers over an 18-hour period in January. The Sharks avenged the latter loss with a 2-1 win in the semifinals.
However, keen observers of varsity soccer in the Sunshine State know better than to ever count out a team coached by Silverberg. Saturday’s success at the Lake Myrtle Soccer Complex in Auburndale was his ninth FHSAA girls soccer championship, and fifth at Ponte Vedra.
This year’s champions are far different from last. The 2024 squad graduated 10 seniors. This year, center forward Jennie Dearie enrolled at the University of North Carolina in January.
DeVincentis is a sophomore who earned more time in the lineup after Dearie graduated. She responded with an assist in the semifinal and the opening goal in the state final.
Then, there is Consunji, a central defender whom Silverberg says may be the best player he has ever coached at the varsity level. Ponte Vedra has sent alumni to Florida State, North Carolina, Florida, UCF and scores of other programs. And, Silverberg is not one for hyperbole.
Consunji scored a free kick from at least 40 yards away midway in the 65th minute to give the Sharks breathing room.
“She is a center back, but she can play anywhere on the field and be the best player on the field,” Silverberg said of Consunji. “She’s the best player. She might be the best player I’ve ever had. …How she plays, she has amazing soccer instincts. She doesn’t have the confidence that she is that good. She is a humble kid, a quiet kid. She is going to be something some day for sure.”
Lourdes controlled possession for most of the match. For the first 70 minutes, the Bobcats (16-2-2) did everything but score. Ponte Vedra did not let the Miami program take shots without multiple people standing between the shooter and goalkeeper Abby Kennedy.
Lourdes drew a corner kick in the 71st minute. Following an in-swinging service, the ball fell to the feet of senior defender Lauren Cancio. She took a touch, then, calmly, finished with her left foot.
It wasn’t enough for the Bobcats. Ponte Vedra held on, despite everything freshman winger Gianna Gray as well as senior forward Antonella Monsalve threw at the Sharks.
