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Hurricanes Soccer Edges FIU Panthers 1-0 in a Close Match

Zach Cohen
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Hurricanes Soccer Edges FIU Panthers 1-0 in a Close Match

Another night, another rain delay, another win for the Miami Hurricanes as they defeated the FIU Panthers 1-0 at Cobb Stadium Sunday night with the great play of Freshman Giovana Canali.  

“This group continues to improve every match,” said Head Coach Ken Masuhr. “Credit to FIU, as they are a well organized and spirited side. In the end, we felt that we managed the big moments of the match and took our chances with composure. Winning at this level is very difficult, so we are happy with the result and the shut out. We are looking forward to another great crowd on Thursday as we close out non-conference play.”

In another rain filled, rain delayed night in Coral Gables, The Hurricanes came ready to battle their cross-town rival, FIU. As the first whistle sounded, Miami came out with great energy. Keeping possession of the ball mainly in FIU’s side of the field. Midfielder Grace Hurren did a spectacular job of facilitating the ball, making smooth passes.

The Panthers did make it interesting throughout the later part of the first and early part of the second half as their dynamic forwards, Nikole Solis and Noemi Paquin both tallied shots on goal. Credit goes to Miami’s Freshman goalkeeper Gray Wilson who was making her first collegiate start. Wilson was an absolute brick wall, making four registered saves.

In the 68th minute, Cane’ Ciara Alacron stole the ball after a bad mistake by an FIU player, near FIU’s goal, Alacron tapped a beautiful pass to Canali, where she sniped a shot right into the lower right side of the goal. Canali ran to midfield, faced the fans sitting in the rain, and threw up the signature U!

It was all Miami from there on and out. FIU had chances but Miami just kept on playing keep away. The back line for Miami, featuring Florida transfer Tori Grambo, and Adrianna Serna did a stellar job making sure the ball was kept upfield all night.

During the last 15 minutes of the game, FIU players seemed tired out on the pitch and it was all Miami from here on out. As the last whistle blew, the players once again celebrated with Mashur and look to continue to beat up on their non-conference opponents. 

Miami will look to make it three in a row when they face Southeastern Louisiana at Cobb Stadium on Thursday night.

Cam Ward shines in Miami debut, dominating Florida on the road 41-17

Jayden Gonzalez
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Cam Ward shines in Miami debut, dominating Florida on the road 41-17

The hype is real.

The Miami Hurricanes opened its season on Saturday in one of the most hostile environments in college football. At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Cam Ward and the `Canes were unfazed, dominating its in-state rival Florida Gators 41-17.

Saturday was the long-awaited Miami debut of Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward, who looked as advertised in his season debut.

“[Cam] is a special, special guy,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s just scratching the surface.”

Offensively, UM’s talent was too much for the Florida defense. The Hurricane attack totalled 524 yards, while generating 25 first downs and 13 plays over 20+ yards. The 41 points from the Hurricanes is the most allowed by a Florida Gators team in a home opener. 

Ward finished his Miami debut completing 74 percent of his passes, throwing for 385 yards, tallying three touchdowns and one interception.

Halfway through the third quarter, deep into Florida territory, Ward evaded pressure, rolled to his left and fired a 23 yard laser to senior receiver Jacolby George into the back of the endzone. Ward’s dazzling play sucked whatever life was left at “The Swamp” as Miami extended the lead to 38-10.

“It was a really good play by the o-line and Jacolby,” Ward said. “Jacolby George, he’s one of the best receivers in the country.”

On the ground, sophomore Mark Fletcher Jr. and Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez led the way for the `Canes. The rushing attack ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, both from Fletcher.

It was not all positive for the Hurricanes this afternoon despite the win. 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Reuben Bain Jr. and sophomore corner Damari Brown both entered the locker room early in the game and never returned.

Cristobal said after the game that both Bain and Brown had suffered soft tissue injuries. Although he does not have an official timeline for their return, Cristobal said both sophomores could be out for a week or two.

Apart from UF running back Montrell Johnson’s 71 yard touchdown in the second quarter, The Hurricane defense held its own against quarterback Graham Mertz and the Florida offense. Without Bain, UM sacked Mertz thrice, holding the Gators to just 17 points. 

Mertz finished the game throwing for just 91 yards and tallying one interception. The former Wisconsin quarterback left the game early following a hit from Miami defensive end Tyler Barron.

Late in the third quarter, the Gators were threatening for the first time since Johnson’s touchdown. On second down, Mertz took a shot to the end zone but was picked off by Washington transfer safety Mishael Powell, who returned the interception 67 yards into Florida territory.

In his first drive with the `Canes, Ward proved to be the quarterback Miami had been missing for quite some time. The fifth-year senior was methodical, making smart reads on the ground and through the air. Ward ended his opening drive with a nine yard touchdown pass to ninth-year senior tight end Cam McCormick to give UM a quick 7-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, the momentum looked to sway in favor of the Gators following Johnson’s 71 yard run. However, Ward and the Hurricanes remained poised and quickly responded. 

In just over two and half minutes, Ward completed three passes for 61 yards, capping off the drive with a 24 yard touchdown grab from senior wideout Xavier Restrepo. At the half, the Hurricanes lead stood at 24-10.

Ward quickly built a connection with Restrepo this afternoon, something that Hurricane fans can expect to continue for the rest of the season. Restrepo finished the afternoon with seven catches for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Coming out of halftime, Miami continued their relentless attack on the Gators. On the third play of the drive, Ward hit Restrepo for a quick gain, but the wideout created space for himself and turned a first down into a 40 yard gain. 

The following play, Fletcher caught a pass in open space, getting 22 yards himself. The running back finished the drive with a one yard leap into the endzone, giving Miami a 21 point lead.

Miami’s win over Florida is a confidence booster to a program that is searching for its first ACC championship appearance since 2017. With the new 12-team College Football Playoff, many believe the Hurricanes have a legitimate chance to qualify for the first time in program history.

Miami will play its home opener on Saturday against the Florida A&M Rattlers. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

Canes’ Volleyball Shines in 3-0 Sweep Over Colorado at UNT Invitational

Jimin Park
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Canes’ Volleyball Shines in 3-0 Sweep Over Colorado at UNT Invitational

Following their season-opening victory, the Miami Hurricanes kept the momentum going with a 3-0 sweep over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday evening at The Super Pit. This sweep, their first of the season, advanced the ‘Canes to a 2-0 record.

The ‘Canes outperformed the Buffaloes in both offensive and defensive metrics. Miami put 44 kills on the board with a .417 hitting percentage, compared to Colorado’s 21 kills at a .084 average. Additionally, Miami led in service aces with 11 compared to Colorado’s 2.

On the defensive end, Miami recorded 8 blocks while Colorado had 1. The ‘Canes also outdug the Buffaloes 41 to 29.

Set one involved both teams trading runs, but the ‘Canes ultimately prevailed with a score of 25-22. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Carney led Miami’s offense with eight kills, while fellow sophomore Grace Lopez added five kills and two service aces. Miami’s defense was crucial, featuring a notable double block from junior outside hitter Flomarie Heredia Colon and freshman middle blocker Bianka Lulić, along with a single block from redshirt freshman setter Ariana Rodriguez.

Building on their strong performance from the first set, the ‘Canes powered through set two with a 25-11 victory. The Buffaloes initially led 4-2 in the set due to a few errors, but Miami quickly turned the set around following a kill by Carney. The ‘Canes went on a five-point run contributed by two service aces from Lopez and kills from Hederia Colon and junior middle blocker Dalia Wilson. Later in the set, the ‘Canes again delivered a 13-1 scoring run, with Lopez contributing three kills, two aces, and a block. This performance from Lopez turned a slim 12-10 lead into a 25-11 blowout.

Set three didn’t go much differently as set two, also resulting in a dominant 25-11 ‘Canes victory over the Buffaloes. The ‘Canes recorded 13 kills, three aces, and three blocks in the final set to clinch the win.

The Canes will stay in Denton, TX., for the final day of the UNT Invitational. They will compete against North Texas tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+.

A Taste of Sabrina Carpenter’s Latest Album, ‘Short n’ Sweet’

Jenna Simone
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A Taste of Sabrina Carpenter’s Latest Album, ‘Short n’ Sweet’

Sabrina Carpenter has been gaining significant recognition as a pop artist due to her recent music. Carpenter was previously recognized by her role on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World” and the release of her debut single, “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying,” in 2014. 

Her fame has continued to rise with the release of six albums since 2015. Her latest album, “Short n’ Sweet,” dropped just days ago by Island Records on Aug. 23.

Carpenter began promoting the album earlier this year by releasing two singles: “Espresso” on April 13 and “Please, Please, Please” on June 6. Both tracks gained traction following Carpenter’s high-profile relationship with “Saltburn” star Barry Keoghan. 

The couple’s public appearances drew attention from the press, granting Carpenter more listens to her two new singles. “Espresso” peaked at No. 3, and “Please, Please, Please” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the success of its first two singles, Carpenter’s new album, “Short n’ Sweet,” has captured widespread interest. The album is composed of 12 songs in many genres, including pop, R&B, country and rock. It touches upon themes of love, self-empowerment, relationships, joy and heartbreak. 

The opening track, “Taste,” is bold, flirtatious and suggestive, creating speculations about who the song may be about. The teasing lyrics have led fans to believe Carpenter is referencing her short fling with Shawn Mendes in February 2023. 

With this, Carpenter explores a love triangle and the effects of rebounds following a relationship. Carpenter definitely made the right decision by using this song to open her album as it sets a high-energy tone and leaves you wanting more.

The second track, “Please, Please, Please,” is Carpenter’s second released single from the album. Here, she pleads for her partner to avoid embarrassing her throughout their relationship, implying a direct message to her current boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, who starred in the music video for this song. 

While very upbeat, the song demonstrates vulnerability as it is both a personal plea and a universal message about the importance of respect in romantic relationships.

Next, “Good Graces” refers to Carpenter navigating through a relationship with a confident nature. She claims that if a man were to disrespect her, she would “switch up” and leave immediately. This song empowers young women as it reminds us that we deserve to be treated with care and should always prioritize self-respect.

Unlike the first four tracks, “Sharpest Tool” has a slower melody, touching upon deeper emotions about learning from past mistakes in love regarding miscommunication and lies.

The slower ballad adds variety to Carpenter’s album, making it more versatile and able to reach a larger audience. By broadening the album’s appeal, listeners can connect on a more emotional level.

“Coincidence” explores themes of honesty as Carpenter speaks about a past partner telling her lies to cover up infidelity within the relationship. 

Carpenter stands as a voice for those who have found themselves stuck in cycles of betrayal and deceit. With this, Carpenter offers a relatable song that can help her gain more loyalty and listens from fans.

“Bad Chem” is a sultry song that explores feelings of physical attraction in a relationship and how Carpenter wishes to approach that attraction. The suggestiveness in this song sets it apart from some of Carpenter’s past music, capitalizing on her ability to approach themes of intimacy confidently, which can further help her create a new image and persona for herself.

The hit “Espresso” epitomizes modern pop music with its catchy chorus and upbeat notes. The song reveals Carpenter’s confident nature by metaphorically comparing herself to espresso: small and energetic. The confidence and enthusiasm in this song is infectious, making it clear as to why it has been such a big hit.

“Dumb & Poetic” is another of the more melancholic tracks, addressing heartbreak and how a previous partner of hers has acted immaturely with little communication and persistent avoidance. It is an accurate portrayal of how one may feel during a toxic relationship, furthering her ability to relate with those in her audience who have suffered similar dilemmas.

Unlike her usual pop style, “Slim Pickins” shocked fans with its country twist and Carpenter’s southern accent. The beautiful lyrics discuss today’s generation’s lack of authentic, caring partners. 

While the shift to country could be seen as a risky choice, the execution made up for it. Fans are gushing over this style of music from Carpenter and are requesting more. Furthermore, her versatility and professionalism are asserted.

The upbeat song “Juno” references a 2007 film of the same name in which the main character unexpectedly becomes pregnant. In reference to the film, Carpenter suggests in her song that if she finds the right partner, she will be open to starting a family. This wholesome theme opens up an aspirational message about future possibilities for many.

“Lie to Girls” is a powerful song about the self-deception that can accompany love. Carpenter sings about  the tendency to overlook red flags in partners because one may love them. 

This message is very crucial for many young women to understand, as we often find ourselves blinded by the idea of love and become willing to accept less than we deserve. Therefore, we must learn how to recognize when one is telling us what we want to hear, rather than showing us how they really feel through their actions.

Lastly, “Don’t Smile” is about the raw emotions that follow a breakup. Carpenter sings about her desire for her ex-partner to feel unhappy after ending a relationship with her. She explains that rather than smiling because the relationship happened, she wishes for her ex to cry because it is over due to the immense pain they caused her. 

While it might come across as toxic, I’m sure plenty of us can relate to this specific feeling, which is why this track stands out for its candid portrayal of the less talked-about, more vindictive emotions that can arise after a breakup.

Overall, “Short n’ Sweet” has widened the range of Sabrina Carpenter’s music. By experimenting with new genres and melodies, Carpenter is on track to continue gaining more fans from across the globe. 

The album has also helped her make a larger name for herself as a pop star, not a Disney Channel actress, regardless of competition with similar artists like Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Chappel Roan. Sabrina_Carpenter_2019

Fans have been gushing about her album, wardrobe, relationships, concerts and overall persona and cannot wait to see more. Quite frankly, I’m already ready for her to announce her next album drop!

 

‘Canes hoops lands first recruit of the 2025 class in shooting guard Matthew Able

Wrigley Kordt
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‘Canes hoops lands first recruit of the 2025 class in shooting guard Matthew Able

All eyes are on University of Miami football as the Hurricanes prepare to take on their in-state rival, the Florida Gators, to start the season on Saturday. But ‘Canes basketball stole the spotlight on Friday afternoon, landing four-star recruit Matthew Able.

The 6-foot-5 guard’s stock rose rapidly in recent months, as he went from being ranked outside of the top 150 players in his class to no. 64 overall. 

Able will stay close to home for his collegiate career — he currently plays for Sagemont Prep in Fort Lauderdale and spent last season with Berkeley Prep in Tampa. The commitment comes after an official visit just last week.

Able chose the Hurricanes over several offers, including Baylor and Michigan, as well as ACC rivals Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech. He also received an offer from Boston College, where his father, Doug Able, played for four seasons from 1987 to 1991.

Most recently, Able played for the Austin Rivers SE Elite as part of the Adidas 3Stripes Select Basketball program, averaging 22 points per game during the championship week. That included a 29 point performance in the opener and a 35 point performance to close out the week. During the showcase as a whole, he averaged 19 points per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 42 percent from behind the arc.

Able is head coach Jim Larrañaga’s first recruit of the 2025 class. Miami will look to keep building on the momentum of its 2024 class, which was headlined by five-star guard Jalil Bethea, the highest-rated recruit in program history.

Miami Soccer earns first victory of Ken Masuhr era with 2-1 Victory Over Missouri

Shea Mcdonald
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Miami Soccer earns first victory of Ken Masuhr era with 2-1 Victory Over Missouri

In the face of rain delays, a power outage, and a hungry opponent equally struggling, Miami Women’s soccer earned their first victory of the Ken Masuhr era with a 2-1 victory over the Missouri Tigers Thursday night at Cobb Stadium. As the announcer and crowd counted down the clock it signified the first win for women’s soccer since September of last year, their first win in 10 games going back to last year. 

“I am so thrilled for this group,” said Masuhr. “We have consistently put in work every day and we knew at some point that the ball would bounce our way. Credit to our seniors and fifth-years who have continued to push and hold our standard. I could not be happier that this happened at home in front of a great crowd.” 

The game did not come easy for the Hurricanes. They came out  a little slow, struggling to move the ball consistently into scoring position.This resulted in some early offense for the Tigers who took four of the first five shots of the match. A combination of good defense and solid goalkeeping from redshirt freshman Claireese Foley kept Miami around so they could build some momentum to go on the offensive. 

The Canes’ now out of their own half of the field were able to apply some pressure on the Tigers defense. Though it didn’t result in anything immediately they kept on knocking at the door, and then eventually someone answered. 

After the University of Florida transfer Tori Grambo received the ball just inside the midfield line she fired a pass down to freshman Giovana Canali. Surrounded by three defenders, Canali proceeded to weave her way in and out of the defense generating just enough space to strike the ball across her body and into the bottom right corner of the goal. The freshman then proceeded to pay homage to Marcus Rashford with a simple yet powerful point to her head as she celebrated the second goal of her collegiate career, a roaring crowd erupting in front of her. 

Though a high point of the season, the game did not end there for Miami. Persistence and fight kept Miami in position to capitalize on whenever Missouri slipped up. Then eventually a penalty kick landed perfectly in front of the goal and because of the contest by Jordan Womack it forced Missouri into scoring on themselves putting the Canes’ up by two goals. 

From there to Miami it was just about keeping away. Trying to hold onto the lead they moved the ball around not really too hard to make an offensive push, but just trying to drain out the clock. Then while things were going smooth the lights of Cobb Stadium completely shut off forcing a long stoppage and halting Miami’s momentum. The forced break seemed to give the Tigers the boost they needed and they began to go on the offensive. 

Miami stuck in second gear didn’t match that energy letting Missouri gain momentum. Then just like that a corner kick set up a header for the Tigers and Foley couldn’t corral it in time, as Tigers midfielder Landis Canada snuck right in front of the goal to tap it in, making the score 2-1 in favor of the ‘Canes. 


The goal really put Miami back into the right mindset as from there they shut everything down. Only one more shot allowed through the last 22 minutes. 

It was a win that the players not only took for themselves but for their new coach. Canali immediately ran to her coach following the game to give him a hug and the players could be heard from across the field cheering louder than the crowd as they celebrated Coach Mahsuhr first victory as head coach. 

There is still a long season ahead and this team still has a long way to go but, at least for the moment, a high point for a struggling team and potentially the beginning of something positive for the future. 

Miami will be back at Cobb Stadium hoping to carry on this momentum Sunday at 7:00pm when the FIU Panthers come to town.

Sims: If Miami falters, don’t blame the players, look to the head coach

Luke Sims
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Sims: If Miami falters, don’t blame the players, look to the head coach

Oh, no.

Doom and gloom already? 

While the Miami Hurricanes season is yet to get underway, a big test awaits them in Gainesville this weekend. Miami is favored by 2.5 points in the swamp, but ESPN gives Florida the edge in win projection percentage. 

Miami may look scarier on paper, but this is still the first game of the season on the road against a rival and a South Eastern Conference opponent. While Miami should win this game, a misstep could spell trouble for the rest of the season. 

After Miami’s embarrassing gaffe versus Georgia Tech, their season spiraled downward Miami finished the season with a 3-5 record after starting off 4-0. That was the conclusion of the second season of the Mario Cristobal era. 

Miami is entering year three of the Cristobal program. Cristobal inherited this team from Manny Diaz. In year three, with a new freshman class and three offseasons of transfers, the team is led by mostly Cristobal’s guys. 

That means that the blame falls on Cristobal and his staff. 

A coach can only coach his players so well. There’s a point where the players are just not talented enough to compete with other more talented schools. Cristobal may have been able to make the case before that his team was not as talented, but he can’t make that excuse now.

Miami was able to add playmakers to almost every position through the transfer portal. Cam Ward from Washington State at quarterback elevates the ceiling of the offense tremendously with his dual-threat ability. Damien Martinez and Sam Brown at running back and wide receiver, respectively, both add serious talent and experience to the offense. 

These studs join an already established group of threats in Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, and Mark Fletcher Jr. The Hurricanes now have a three-headed monster at wideout and two running backs who are fast and powerful workhorses 

14 four-stars and one five-star prospect headline this incoming class of freshmen. 247Sports has this as the 6th best recruiting class in the nation. Some of these players will get on the field and make an impact right away. 

This is a make-or-break season for the Hurricanes. The ’Canes have never looked better on paper. They have a light schedule and all the momentum from the national media. Their coach trusts in his program and his culture, and soon his failure to perform may cost him. 

The average tenure of a Division 1 football coach is about three and a half years. Typically, coaches have a maximum of two or three years to show significant improvement in order to keep their job. While a jump from five wins in year one to seven wins in year two is technically an improvement, it’s not the progress that Miami fans and ownership have hoped for. 

Miami has not won its conference since 2003. Cristobal was supposed to change that. He was supposed to bring a winning culture back to Coral Gables. But Cristobal has won just 12 games since being hired and only six ACC games. The only way Cristobal can silence the doubters and make people feel better about his $80 million deal will be to start winning football games, particularly in the ACC. 

 It’s put up or shut up time for Mario Cristobal and Miami. 

Al stats and data via ESPN and The Miami Hurricanes unless otherwise noted

Where should you head to watch the ‘Canes play this fall?

Luke Sims
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Where should you head to watch the ‘Canes play this fall?

The Miami Hurricanes boast many sports teams that compete in the fall including Football, Soccer, Volleyball, and Track and Field. It can sometimes be difficult to locate where all these different teams play. So, here is your guide to how to get to all of the ‘Canes sporting events this fall. 

Football – Hard Rock Stadium

First off, the most complicated one is the Football games. The team plays all of its home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This place is the home for a plethora of concerts and is the home of Miami Dolphins, Miami’s NFL team. The stadium is about 45 minutes from campus but with traffic, it will likely be at least an hour.

For all students, there are buses that escort people to and from the stadium most Saturday mornings. All you need to do is have a ticket to the game and that’s the ticket for the bus. The buses start shuttling people three hours before kickoff and an hour after the end of the game.

If you get one of the first buses out of the lot you may be able to find your way to the tailgating section of the parking lot. But, if you plan on tailgating, it’s best to find your own way there. Additional fees are required when purchasing spots to tailgate at Hard Rock Stadium. 

While it’s a trek down to the stadium it’ll be worth it to see new ‘Canes football stars like quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez. Hard Rock Stadium features a large section for all the University students. This makes it easy for you and all of your friends to have a fun game day experience. 

Soccer/Track and Field – Cobb Stadium

Cobb Stadium is home to the Miami women’s soccer team as well as both men’s and women’s track and field. Cobb Stadium is nestled between Mark Light Field and the Hecht Athletic Center on San Amaro Dr. Cobb Stadium is also right across from University Village. 

Miami soccer opens its season on August 15th versus North Florida, this would be the first event open to students to show their support for their sports teams. Miami Soccer hired a new coach in Ken Masuhr, and senior Adrianna Serna is anchoring their defense this season. 

Volleyball – Knight Sports Complex

Located in the building just north of Cobb Stadium is the home of Miami Volleyball, within the same complex as the Hecht Athletic Center. The Hurricanes have been playing at the Knight Sports Complex since 2001. 

It should be a fun environment as Grace Lopez returns for her sophomore season looking to continue the ‘Canes run of success. 

While there are not a ton of home games right away, with the first game being on September 19th, Miami volleyball has a ton of home games from then on out including hopes at a postseason run. 

The Hurricanes have a fun group of athletes competing this fall and they need your support. Make sure to come out and show your love for U Miami athletics! 

Miami graduate Sam Peene covers Paris Olympics

Ashley Freedland
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Miami graduate Sam Peene covers Paris Olympics

For most, the Olympics are a time to sit back, relax and enjoy the final moments of summer before returning to their jobs. For University of Miami alumna Sam Peene, it was just the beginning of a long-awaited opportunity.

After switching to a journalism major in her junior year, Peene graduated from Miami in 2023 and landed a job as a writer for Olympics.com. Peene and her co-workers spent weeks preparing to cover the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Covering the event was a whirlwind, with Peene sometimes writing up to seven stories a day. It was a stressful but rewarding experience, marking a high point in Peene’s young career.  Following the challenges of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Paris also marked a return to normalcy.

Throughout the Olympics, Peene had the opportunity to report on a variety of events. However, there was one story that was most meaningful to her: covering French swimmer Léon Marchand and his achievements.

After underperforming in 2020, Marchand redeemed himself with four individual gold medals, all with Olympic records. Peene wrote about two of his show-stealing races, one of which headlined the website for the rest of the day. 

“I got to cover his last two races. And I got to cover his fourth race … he won gold and broke the Olympic record,” Peene said. “And getting to cover that, I really felt like, ‘Okay, this might be the moment where I feel like I’ve made it. I’m covering for the French star of the Olympic game, for Olympics.com.’ I have to say that was my favorite moment.”

Peene credits Michelle Kaufman’s sports reporting class and her time  with The Miami Hurricane (TMH) as what ignited her passion for sports writing. 

“That class changed everything. I started working at The Miami Hurricane in the newsroom, so the combination of the class and my experience at TMH is almost fully to credit what I am doing now,” Peene said.

Working with TMH also provided Peene with invaluable real-world experience covering a variety of varsity sports in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, to local Miami sports. 

“It was like working in the real world while still at school,” Peene said. 

Peene acknowledges it was a very challenging few days — writing more pieces in one day than what most do in one week. But, because of her training in Miami, she was ready for this monumental task.

 I had to kind of remind myself to just take it story by story, day by day,” Peene said. “And then I would come out on the other side of it.”

This even-keeled mantra led to Peene having one of the greatest experiences of her young career.

“I really wanted to come out feeling proud and accomplished and feeling like I had done the best that I could because I was so excited to be covering the Olympic games.”

North Florida spoils Miami Soccer’s home opener, drops first game of the season 1-0

Jayden Gonzalez
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North Florida spoils Miami Soccer’s home opener, drops first game of the season 1-0

The Miami Hurricanes women’s soccer program was ready to kick off its 2024 campaign with a matchup against the North Florida Ospreys at Cobb Stadium Thursday night after a nearly two-hour rain delay. With a team full of new faces, the ’Canes were ready to begin the Ken Masuhr era in Miami.

Despite countless scoring opportunities, the Hurricanes offense were never able to break through and put the ball in the back of the net. A crucial mistake in the 27th minute led to a UNF goal, and the Ospreys never looked back, spoiling Masuhr’s coaching debut at Cobb Stadium with a 1-0 loss.

UM’s play reflected the sweeping changes made in the offseason that added 17 players to the team and a new training staff. They lacked chemistry, made unforced errors and missed key chances to capitalize against UNF.

Early in the game, the Hurricanes looked solid on the offensive attack, with forwards Moria Flynn and Kyla Gallagher applying pressure on the UNF defense and getting good looks at the net.

North Florida had some early responses of their own. Around the seventh minute, true freshman Allison Souers launched a screamer that nailed the left post of the goal and took a bounce in the favor of the Hurricanes.

In the 27th minute, the Ospreys broke free. Deep in their own side of the pitch, UM goalkeeper Claireese Foley passed the ball to midfielder Julia Edwards. Edwards took a poor touch and misplayed the ball, allowing UNF’s Bella Pontieri to intercept the ball and hit Souers. The forward then fired a laser into the back of the net past the outstretched arms of Foley, allowing the Ospreys to an early 1-0 lead.

A stellar performance by UNF redshirt junior goalkeeper Sofia Miliancano prevented Miami from breaking through offensively. Milliancano played like a brick wall on the pitch tonight, making five key glove saves for the Ospreys.

In the 51st minute, Miami had back-to-back opportunities to even the score up against UNF. After getting in the box, freshman forward Giovani Canali had a shot at the open net, but was saved by Milliancano. The ball ricocheted off the goalie’s gloves and at the feet of Jessica Kaye, who had an open shot at the goal but was denied by the keeper.

North Florida’s win against Miami is the Ospreys first in program history. The Hurricanes had won all four of their previous matchups with UNF.

Despite the loss, the Hurricanes showed flashes of what could be next for this program with solid performances from new faces, including Florida transfer Tori Grambo, freshman Giovani Canali, and Texas Tech transfer Gisselle Kozarski. 

Miami looks to bounce back and win its first game in the Ken Masuhr era with an in-state matchup against the Florida Atlantic Owls in Boca Raton on Sunday evening. Gametime at the FAU Soccer Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

No. 19 Miami kicks off 2024 in the Swamp against Florida

Quinn Sheehan
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No. 19 Miami kicks off 2024 in the Swamp against Florida

The Miami Hurricanes will kick off year 3 of the Mario Cristobal era in hostile territory.  They will travel to Gainesville, Florida to take on their in-state rival, the Florida Gators. The first two years under Cristobal have been a mixed bag, evening out at a .500 record of 12-12 with one bowl appearance.

Miami enters the 2024 season ranked 19th in the nation, carrying a considerable amount of hype with it. However, that has been the case for many Hurricanes teams over the past two decades with little results to show compared to the expectations. Still, many believe this Miami team is the squad that will buck that trend. 

The ’Canes were marred by inconsistent quarterback play which held back an otherwise fairly complete roster as injuries plagued the season for both starter Tyler Van Dyke and backup Emory Williams.

This offseason, the Hurricanes looked to the transfer portal for improvements at the position and came away with one of the best transfers in the country, Cameron Ward from Washington State. Ward will be joined in his first season in Miami by another splash in the transfer portal by the ’Canes in former Oregon State running back Damien Martinez. 

Ward and Martinez, alongside returning star receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George and a talented offensive line highlight what looks to be an explosive offensive unit. The Hurricanes also do not lack talent on the defensive side with star edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and Middle Tennessee State transfer Marley Cook headlining a promising group.

The Hurricanes are flooded with talent and experience on both sides of the ball, and if everything goes to plan, Cristobal’s third season leading the ’Canes could be the one that puts Miami back in the national spotlight.

Meanwhile, the Florida Gators have been a far cry from the SEC contender they used to be, as they have not posted a winning season since 2020, and expectations are low for the upcoming season. Most analysts agree that the Gators could be in for a tough season in 2024. 

Still, there are some bright spots for Florida that could give the Hurricanes some issues. Quarterback Graham Mertz was incredibly efficient in his first season at UF, tossing 20 touchdowns to only three interceptions. 

Miami’s defense was stout last season but showed cracks in their armor at times to quarterbacks, notably allowing 273 yards and four touchdowns to North Carolina’s Drake Maye and 308 yards with three touchdowns to Louisville’s Jack Plummer. If Miami’s defense does not come to play next Saturday, Mertz could pick them apart with precision as he rarely turns the ball over.

Florida’s most notable roster change came at the running back position as Trevor Etienne transferred to Georgia, leaving the backfield open for senior Montrell Johnson Jr. The veteran back tallied over 1,000 scrimmage yards last season along with six touchdowns while splitting touches with Etienne. With a larger role now, Johnson looks prime for a huge statistical season. 

While the Hurricanes’ rushing defense was solid throughout most of the season, they faltered at times, allowing their opponents to rush for over 100 yards six times over their last eight games of the season. The Gators will likely lean on their rushing attack if they are to challenge Miami in week one.

Another factor in this matchup is the crowd. It is considerably tougher to win on the road in college football no matter the opponent and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is notorious as one of the loudest and most difficult environments for opposing teams in all of college football. The Gators’ crowd has propelled them to some notable upsets over the past few years despite the lack of team success as a whole, notably against No. 7 Utah in 2022 and No. 11 Tennessee last season. 

Regardless of Florida’s roster and expectations this year, the Hurricanes will need to come prepared for the noise and atmosphere if they wish to escape with a win on the road. 

Kickoff for next Saturday’s season opener is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be aired on ABC.

Dear ‘Canes Fans: we’re back, for real this time

Luke Sims
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Dear ‘Canes Fans: we’re back, for real this time

We’ve been here before. 

We’ve been to the top of the mountain — with Vinny and Micheal, with Ed and Ray. Miami’s athletic history will always be strong. But 21st-century ’Canes fans, those memories have long faded. 

Last season was year two into the Mario Cristobal era. It was supposed to be different. It was supposed to be when everything changed. 

With a healthy quarterback and a new offensive coordinator, the team was supposed to score a ton of points. With leaders like Kamren Kinchens and Leonard Taylor III looking NFL-bound, the team was supposed to have a defense that could make plays. 

The national media was looking to Miami. The local fans were excited. This was a fresh start, a new era of Miami football. No more mediocrity; it was time to return to the spotlight and show everyone that the U was back. 

The team was ranked in the top 25 and had an impressive showing against another top 25 opponent in Texas A&M in week 2. Miami had all the momentum, even being ranked 17th in the country, being 4-0, and hosting a lowly Georgia Tech team. 

Looking to make it 5-0 before a huge road matchup with North Carolina, the ’Canes season changed for the worse with one decision. 

It’s been over 10 months since the Georgia Tech incident, where Miami could have ended the game with a simple kneel-down. Instead, Miami fumbled, and Georgia Tech stole the victory, sending Miami’s season cascading into mediocrity and frustration. 

Now, in the third season of the Cristobal era, Miami is loaded up again. With transfers on all sides of the ball and in every key position, the ’Canes have never been better on paper under Cristobal. 

Cam Ward is a quarterback from Washington State who looks to bring his dual-threat ability to Coral Gables. Sam Brown is a wideout from Houston who has some serious juice. Damien Martinez is a running back from Oregon State can be a workhorse. On defense, Mishael Powell is a veteran who brings some needed experience to the safety room. Tyler Baron was a late addition in the transfer portal, but the former Tennessee Volunteer will be wreaking havoc on the defensive line. 

UM already has Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George at receiver who were both fantastic last season. Freshman running back Mark Fletcher Jr. is back and looking to build on his elite freshman resume. On defense, Ahkeem Mesidor is back to full health and ready to rock. Francisco Maiugoa was one of the best players in the ACC last season and he’s ready to make his senior season count. 

Miami is in a great place and deserves all the props for the excellent job Cristobal and his staff has done in getting these players to Miami. But stars on a website profile and highlight reels from other schools only go so far. None of that will matter when the pads are on August 31st in Gainesville. 

The ’Canes kick off the 2024-25 season in the swamp with a trip up the turnpike to take on their in-state rival, the Florida Gators. This is the first big test for Miami in what should be a relatively light schedule with only a single ranked opponent currently on the docket. 

The ’Canes aren’t worried about the talk. The team doesn’t care about the national media’s expectations. This team has a week-by-week and game-by-game attitude that starts with their quarterback. 

“We handle it well in the locker room,” Ward said. “There are no egos in the locker room. We don’t play that stuff. Everyone comes in with the right mindset. We want to get better; we want to compete and get better on both sides of the ball. At the end of the day, we want to put the team in the best position to win, so keep putting the team first and take it one game at a time.” 

This is not just an offensive attitude. The defense operates the same way and even the new guys are brought into the ’Canes culture. 

“I think it’s really simple. … It’s really competitive, so I think everybody’s just trying to compete against each other, and it’s a real healthy relationship,” Baron said. “There’s no hatred or no envy or anything. It’s just been a really good kind of competitive room. So, it’s just something that it’s easy to get into and easy to try to push yourself to be the best in everything you can.”

We’ve been here before. 

The hype train is real, the pieces are in place and the U looks primed and ready to be back. The die-hard Miami fans are already booking tickets to the National Championship Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 in Atlanta.

But, for the skeptical ’Canes fans who have had their hearts broken and expectations shattered by their favorite college football team year after year after year, this exciting reality may be harder to accept. 

For all the Miami fans out there who are scared to buy into the hype of the 2024-25 Miami Hurricanes football season, lean into it. 

Miami is miles ahead of where they were last season, and Cristobal is in year three of his program. Having legit playmakers at every position with experience in big games is a luxury that Miami has not had in a long time. The blend of transfer and in-house talent along with the youth and experience of both sides of the ball makes for an exciting group of Hurricanes. 

Miami has the players; they have the attitude in the building; they have a forgiving schedule. All the pieces are in place to avenge the horrors of last season and make the ’Canes of old proud. This Miami team is different, and they believe it. 

You should too.

All stats and data via ESPN and The Miami Hurricanes unless otherwise noted.

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