(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Charlotte Reynolds didn’t care that she was upward of 30 yards from the goal, maybe close to 40.
Too far to shoot? Not for the Tallahassee Chiles senior midfielder.
“In past years, it happened [long-range goals] quite often,” she said. “It’s probably where I shoot the most from.”
Reynolds launched an improbable rocket goal from distance, goalkeeper Gracie Gerteisen saved everything in sight and Chiles shocked No. 1 Ponte Vedra 1-0 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-5A girls soccer final on Feb. 17.
Her 15th-minute goal, only two minutes after Ponte Vedra hit the bar on Grace Raymond’s shot, powered Chiles (14-3-2) into a Feb. 27 state semifinal at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.
And it left fans and players alike for Ponte Vedra (15-1-2), the two-time defending champion ranked first in the nation by both MaxPreps and the United Soccer Coaches, stunned. The Sharks had defeated Chiles 2-0 in the season’s opening week, and had gone undefeated against a schedule rated by the FHSAA as Florida’s hardest.
“They got the goal, they packed it in and we just couldn’t break it down,” Ponte Vedra coach Dave Silverberg said.
Ponte Vedra got an opening in the 54th minute, when Chiles was whistled for tripping Ponte Vedra midfielder Katie DeVincentis on a dribbling run into the penalty area. But junior defender Lulu Consunji, on fire around the net for the last month, missed wide on the ensuing penalty kick.
The rest of the way, Gerteisen frustrated Sharks from all angles, snapping up crosses behind a Timberwolves defensive line of Katie Vernon, Tessa Vermillion, Abbey Giffin and Nolyn Haley.
REGION 1-4A.
Freshman Shea Donovan’s early goal started the scoring to send Bishop Kenny (17-3) back to the final four, rolling 5-1 to victory against formerly-perfect Ocala Vanguard (21-1).
Donovan tacked on a second-half goal while Cate Petre, Stella Jones and Abrianna Delgatti — the last with a free kick from across the halfway line — also scored late for the Crusaders, who advance to a Feb. 26 state semifinal in DeLand.
Laurel Richmond netted the only goal for Vanguard.
REGION 1-7A
Lake Mary (18-2-1) ended the playoff run of Creekside, stopping the Knights 3-0.
The Rams move on to a Feb. 24 state semifinal, while Creekside ends at 12-3-3. The Knights had won FHSAA titles in 2022 and 2024.
REGION 1-6A
Michelle Melancon scored in each half and Niceville ended the state title reign of Bartram Trail, 3-0.
Payten Kent also found the net for Niceville (18-1-1), which had tied Bartram Trail 1-1 in November. The Bears close at 15-3-4.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bishop Kenny girls soccer makes final four, No. 1 Ponte Vedra stunned
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
