"I didn't get my calculations right so I didn't know if we had won or not, then I saw everyone else running so I started running as well," the ANU star said.

They were indeed champions - and Smith earned player of the match honours as ANU secured a second successive Hockey ACT Capital League crown in a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory.

For every triumph there is heartbreak on the other side - this time it was the Tuggeranong Vikings slumping to their fourth consecutive grand final loss at Lyneham Hockey Centre on Saturday.

Every one of them has come in a shootout - so they knew nervous wait all too well. But Smith? Not quite.

"It's just, I can't even sum it up. It was such a great game and I am just speechless really," Smith said.

"We're all a good bunch of girls, and we love playing on the field and we're good friends off the field. That just pays off when we're playing as well.

"It was nerve-wracking. We won last year during shootouts and this year as well."

A semi-final triumph to ANU had tipped the ledger in their favour after four meetings between the two sides this year.

But a slow start from the reigning champions paved the way for Tuggeranong to enjoy the lion's share of the opportunities in the opening exchanges.

The Vikings failed to break the deadlock in the first quarter and it seemed as though ANU would make them pay midway through the second term before Rebecca Lee saved the day with a phenomenal individual effort.

Tuggeranong's Helen Legge saw yellow late in the second quarter but ANU were unable to capitalise with scores remaining locked at the main break.

The defending champions would soon draw first blood early in the third term via the stick of Grace Ronnfeldt. It was all that could separate the two sides heading into the fourth.

It would not be enough with Ash Deacon nailing an equaliser to set up a pulsating finish that did enough to make the miserable conditions an afterthought for the punters.

The Vikings so nearly jagged a winner in the dying seconds only to be repelled by the leg of ANU goalkeeper Peta Sutherland to send the game to a shootout.

Another grand final defeat was devastating for the Vikings but it is another chapter in captain Sophie Gaughan's remarkable journey.

"I remember playing with this team when I was like 15 years old and we came second-last in the competition," Gaughan said.

"We have had four chances in a row at the grand final. We've got 13-year-olds playing in our team and a 53-year-old.

"We have come pretty far which is awesome, so hopefully we can keep developing as a group.

"This would have been our fifth shootout that we have come to in finals. It's frustrating to think we can't execute our chances.

"I guess it is a good way to win and a good way to lose. We had a good comeback during the game.

"We were happy in a way to come out with a draw, but it was disappointing to have that end result."

Smith's sights are now locked on the Canberra Chill's Hockey One season opener at Lyneham Hockey Centre next week.

But one can rest assured she will savour every moment of ANU's second successive Capital League title.

"We've still got Canberra Chill. Games start next week so there is no rest," Smith said.

"We'll have a few drinks and then we're back to preparations for next week."