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‘Canes late-game onslaught seals win in 86-69 rout

Brendan Cafferty
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‘Canes late-game onslaught seals win in 86-69 rout

The opening to the Jai Lucas era of Miami men’s basketball started slow, but broke free in the final minutes as the Hurricanes took down the Jacksonville Dolphins 86-69 Monday night at the Watsco Center.

As the more talented team, Miami displayed flashes of dominance early on, forcing deep threes by Jacksonville and powering through the Dolphins on fast breaks in the paint.

But JU didn’t falter, as back-to-back offensive blunders by the Hurricanes led to two three-pointers in return, setting the Dolphins up 9-6.

The first half progressed much the same, with Miami fighting for points in the paint, but occasionally turning the ball over and Jacksonville capitalizing with threes and points in transition.

After the game, Lucas spoke on the reasoning behind the team’s first half struggles and inability to pull ahead.

“We had prepared a course against the 2-3 because that’s the zone that they show,” Lucas said. “They came out on the 1-3-1, so we ran our main offense against it.”

Despite Jacksonville’s decision to run a defense not utilized in multiple years, per Lucas, Miami still managed to fare well offensively, totaling 41 points in the first half.

Photo credit: Makena Wong, Photo Editor. // Ernest Udeh Jr. (8) runs back up the court after scoring against Jacksonville on Nov. 3, 2025 at the Watsco Center.

The true struggles laid on the defensive side of the court.

“I didn’t think we were great defensively,” Lucas said, “the ball got to paint too much. I thought our ball-screen-coverage today really struggled.”

Lucas continued, though, putting a positive emphasis on the overall play of his team.

“But the one thing I am excited about is the guys just continue to battle,” he said.  “They played the whole 40 minutes, and they figured it out on the fly.”

Despite a made free throw for Malik Reneau with 2:05 left to play in the first half, Miami sacrificed a nine point lead with an inability to possess the ball, letting Jacksonville back in with a six point-deficit at the half.

Contributions from true freshman Shelton Henderson both at the free-throw line and in the paint kept the ’Canes stable for the first half. But entering the second, their lead would further be threatened by a missed ‘and-one’ opportunity for Jacksonville on offense, cutting the Miami lead down to four.

Miami’s lead would never dip lower for the remainder of the game as the ’Canes began to exercise their will. Reneau and Henderson traded off two-point attempts, and a Tre Donaldson three-point play brought the lead up to 11.

Another impact addition was TCU transfer center Ernest Udeh Jr., who snagged multiple lobs from Reneau over the course of the night, hammering them down for highlight-reel dunks.

Udeh spoke on his ability to score at-will in the paint and being a lob threat for this team with the help of Reneau.

“[Their plan] was just playing downhill and, given what the defense gave me, Udeh said. “He [Reneau] did a good job sealing down low and open enough space for me to attack and to make the lob over the top when the big-man came over.”

Photo credit: Makena Wong, Photo Editor. // Ernest Udeh Jr. dunks over a Jacksonville defender on Nov. 3, 2025 at the Watsco Center.

Reneau, the transfer from Indiana, racked up 20 points over the course of his first game as a ’Cane, and Udeh shared in the wealth with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Closing out the game, Miami reached a 20 point lead with one minute left to play, outpacing the Dolphins 45-34 after a close first-half.

With this hard-fought victory in the past, Miami looks to the near future, as they face Bethune Cookman on Thursday.

BCU, who took No. 20 Auburn into overtime, appears to be an upcoming test for the ’Canes.

But Lucas remains composed.

“You know, it’s the day of the sport,” Luca said, referring to the modern era of transfers and NIL. “Those guys usually wouldn’t be there, but they are there. So we’ve got to be ready to compete.”

The Hurricanes will face the Wildcats in the Watsco Center for their second home game of the year Nov. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Miami WBB defeats Hofstra 83-48 in season opener

Zach Cohen
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Miami WBB defeats Hofstra 83-48 in season opener

A new season of Miami women’s basketball began at the Watsco Center Monday night. Under second-year head coach Tricia Cullop, her newly assembled roster beat the Hofstra Pride 83-48 on opening night.

Hofstra won the opening tip and senior guard Emma Von Essen hit a quick three-pointer to open the scoring. On the other end of the floor, sophomore Quinnipiac transfer guard Gal Raviv got to the foul line to convert one of her two shots.

Graduate forward Sandra Magolico sank in three quick baskets for the Pride. She was the team’s leading scorer, notching 12 points and being the only Hofstra player in double figures.

It was a cold start for Miami, as Hofstra took an early 6-1 lead. Down 10-7, Cullop called a timeout which went on to lit a fire in her team.

Miami rallied back to lead 13-10 with a few minutes left to go in the first quarter. Freshman forward Natalie Wetzel had two big defensive plays and the Hurricanes finished the opening quarter leading 18-12.

Lorelei DiSanto @loreleis_lens, Contributing Photographer// Freshman Natalie Wetzel shoots for three points against Hofstra University in the Watsco Center on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

The second quarter would start eerily similar to the first with a Hofstra explosion. At the 7:46 mark of the quarter, the Hurricanes led 22-18 as Cullop signaled for a timeout.

Out of the break, Miami drilled three three-pointers in a row. The first one was knocked down by redshirt freshman guard Simone Pelish, her first points of her collegiate career.

The team shot 32 three pointers, while only converting eight of them. Additionally, free throws were an issue for the Hurricanes as they shot just 52% from the line.

Sophomore guard Ahnay Adams finished the second quarter with five points and ended the game with 13 points, shooting 50% from the field. Her defensive prowess continued to shine throughout the game.

UM finished its first half of play, taking a commanding 37-22 lead.

Unlike the first two quarters, Miami got off to a fast start and never looked back. At the 7:36 mark Miami held a 46-26 lead. Wetzel hit her first points of her career on a three-ball.

Another freshman, Meredith Tippner, played a stellar third quarter, scoring two consecutive layups. She finished the game with great play on both sides of the floor, making a few nice defensive plays. With one quarter left to play, UM led 67-34.

“Meredith Tippner, you know, she’s not probably going to be our leading scorer every game, but she gets three to five steals every game,” Cullop said. “She’s just a blue collar, you know, hard nosed kid that’s scrappy.”

Graduate center Ra Shaya Kyle led the team with four defensive rebounds and had 12 points.

Miami continued to play hard in the fourth quarter. 12 Hurricanes players landed in the scoring column while four reached double figures. They soundly defeated the Pride 83-48.

“Unselfishness, and that’s what I want to see. I want this team to continue to share the ball, find the best shots,” Cullop said.

Miami will be back at the Watsco Center 11 a.m. on Thursday for a matchup against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

Lorelei DiSanto @loreleis_lens, Contributing Photographer// Freshman Natalie Wetzel tried to find an open teammate she can pass to without it getting intercepted by Hofstra University in the Watsco Center on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

The Alix Earle Effect: How One UM Grad Redefined “That Girl” Culture

Nyema Davilmar
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Nyema unpacks “The Alix Earle Effect:” how one University of Miami alumna became more than a TikTok trend and reshaped an entire campus culture. From “Get Ready With Me” videos to the psychology of parasocial connection, Nyema explores why Alix’s blend of glam, chaos, and honesty resonates so profoundly with UM girls. It’s not just about the slicked-back buns and white nails; it’s about confidence, belonging, and the new definition of authenticity in a world built on image.

UM cracks down on ticket transfers, causes game day chaos

Maxine Zahler
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UM cracks down on ticket transfers, causes game day chaos

Stricter enforcement of transfer ticket policy caused widespread confusion at the Miami Hurricanes versus University of Florida match on Sept. 20, 2025 at Hard Rock, leaving many students unable to enter the stadium.

The policy was reiterated on Sept. 14, 2025 through an email from the Hurricanes Ticket Office to UM students. 

It said that all tickets for the game that Saturday were claimed, and “tickets are non-transferable and may not be sold.” Any students who attempt to transfer or resell a ticket “will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.”  

A statement from UM Athletics Sports Information Office clarified: “The current policy for student tickets has been in place for several years. The policy was implemented to prevent University of Miami students from selling or transferring their tickets to a person who is not a University student.”

On game day, many students still attempted to enter the stadium with tickets that were not theirs. They were turned away at the gate and sent to a long line at the box office, where they waited in the heat and rain to confirm ticket ownership.

A freshman who wishes to remain anonymous had her entry denied first-hand.

“I went to the game with my transferred ticket, they would not let me in. I basically tried to barter with the desk until halftime and then I left,” she said. 

Entry for students is “first-come, first-serve for all sports,” according to the Hurricanes website. Low ticket supply paired with high demand and website crashes left many students ticketless, prompting some students to try accessing tickets from friends who were not using theirs. 

A common loophole to the transfer restriction involved logging into a ticket holder’s Miami Hurricanes account and adding the ticket to their Apple Wallet. The ticket owner would then need to remove the ticket from their Apple Wallet if they previously added it and provide a photo of their CaneCard–or the physical one itself–to the person attempting to enter the game. 

Students who were denied entry had to use a ride-share app or wait for the UBus back to campus.

“I couldn’t take the bus until halftime when they came. I ended up wasting two hours just at the desk trying to get a ticket even though it didn’t work out for me, it was a pretty bad experience because it was raining,” the freshman said.

Proof of a CaneCard was also actively enforced. A junior who wishes to remain anonymous shared his experience bringing a UF student.

“I’ve never even been asked for my CaneCard at Hard Rock before,” he said. “My buddy and I scanned our tickets, and mine worked because mine hadn’t been transferred, and his didn’t. So I had him go in under my ticket because I knew he didn’t have a CaneCard.”

He claims that this ruined the game day atmosphere due to many UF jersey wearers being unable to enter. Also, he believes that the policy will decrease attendance at Hard Rock, as people will be unwilling to make the two hour round-trip to “gamble” on whether their friends can get in.

All full-time undergraduate UM students are charged an Athletic Fee as part of tuition, covering Hurricanes home games. The junior believes this should grant them flexibility with their tickets.

“If you don’t go to school here then you should have to pay for a ticket, but I don’t see why students shouldn’t be able to sell or transfer their own ticket,” he said.

Stricter enforcement may ensure that the Hard Rock student section is filled with mostly UM students, whose stadium it belongs to, and prevent revenue loss from non-student ticket holders.

Rosenstiel researchers outplant world’s first crossbred corals off Miami

Talia Gorelick
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Rosenstiel researchers outplant world’s first crossbred corals off Miami

Researchers at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science have crossbred corals from Florida and Honduras and planted them onto a living reef –  a groundbreaking step to rescue Florida’s reef, which has lost more than 99 percent of its elkhorn coral since the 1980s.

Andrew Baker, professor of marine biology and ecology who directs the Coral Reef Futures Lab at the Rosenstiel School, led the effort with his team. The scientists carried out the outplanting just off Miami’s coast, placing 35 hybrid “Flonduran” corals alongside 35 Florida-only corals on reefs near Key Biscayne. 

“This project is the first step to see if we can help evolution along,” said Juli Berwald, science writer and co-founder of the nonprofit Tela Coral. “If we succeed here, it puts down a flagstone on the path to doing it in other places.”

Elkhorn coral, once the backbone of Florida’s reefs, has declined by more than 99 percent since the 1980s. Rising ocean temperatures, pollution and disease have left so few colonies that they can no longer reproduce naturally. 

Tela Bay, Honduras, offers a rare bright spot. Despite warm, murky water and decades of runoff from banana plantations, its reefs remain healthy. Baker called Tela’s corals “unusually resilient,” noting that they thrive in the same stressful conditions now threatening Florida’s reefs. 

In June 2024, Rosenstiel scientists and partners at Tela Marine collected fragments and DNA samples from corals in Honduras. A month later, corals from both Honduras and Florida spawned successfully at Rosenstiel and The Florida Aquarium in Apollo Beach, producing more than 200 hybrid babies.

The work was made possible by permits from the Honduran government to export the corals, from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to outplant them on Miami’s reef. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coral Reef Conservation Program funded the initiative.

So far, none of the young corals have died, even as water temperature rose over the summer. Baker’s team is watching closely to see how they respond to bleaching stress in the coming months. 

Berwald suggested that Tela’s unusual resilience may track back to the early 1900s, when banana plantations first brought fertilizer runoff into the bay decades before most of the Caribbean. 

“Maybe they have had more time to adapt to hotter, more polluted conditions,” she said.

The long-term goal is for hybrids to survive, grow to maturity, and eventually spawn on their own, rebuilding the dense elkhorn thickets that once sheltered reef life. 

“Success would look like thickets of elkhorn and staghorn again on tops of reefs, bringing back the homes for fish, snails, lobsters, crabs, everything that lived there,” Berwald said. 

Florida’s reef is one of the state’s most iconic ecosystems, and its collapse would ripple through fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection. “Corals are the habitat builders. They are the trees of the rainforest. You lose corals, and you lose the reef,” Baker said. 

For Rosenstiel students, the project provides hope that reef restoration is still within reach.

“This feels like a real step in the right direction,” said Micheal Gallant, sophomore marine biology student at Rosenstiel. “It makes me think that our generation really can make a difference, and that there are still solutions worth fighting for.”

Berwald said students should take inspiration from the effort itself.

“This required so many partners to come together, so many approvals, so much grit,” Berwald said. “There will always be stumbling blocks. Keep pushing through them.”

She stressed that the project’s legacy belongs to the entire student body, not just Rosenstiel students.

“Reefs are part of your world in Miami. The fact that they are declining is not normal,” she said. “Paying attention matters because it is your legacy.”

 

DIBS parking app revolutionizes event parking

Vivian Amoia
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DIBS parking app revolutionizes event parking

DIBS, an event space parking app, is designed to connect people who live near popular venues and have extra parking spaces with event-goers looking for affordable and convenient parking. 

The app was created by Osher Steel, who graduated from FSU in 2024, and his co-founder Willy Merlet. The pair wanted to make finding affordable event parking stress-free and easier.

DIBS works like AirBnb but for parking. Homeowners, students and small business owners near event venues can become hosts and list their parking spaces for the events that they choose. Although DIBS takes a small commission per booking, the rest goes to the host.

DIBS’s key features include booking parking spots in advance through the app and being able to compare locations by distance to the venue, price and walking time. The app also offers cheaper parking that is up to two-thirds less expensive than official stadium parking, and allows for faster exits after events.

“I first saw the idea of peer-to-peer parking way back in 2019 when I was in high school. It always stuck with me — like, why hasn’t someone made this work when AirBnb and all these other sharing-economy apps already had,” said Steel. 

After graduation, Steel and Merlet began talking about creating a startup that could be beneficial for many event goers.

The two realized they had the skills to do it themselves, and began developing DIBS in September 2023. 

“Every game I’m quick to check my bookings and see how everyone else on the platform is doing it, but I’m also really enthusiastic about how little effort it requires on my part to make some extra money and help alumni and fans out,” said Patrick Luciuga, an FSU student and DIBS host. 

“I think the clear benefit to DIBS is that it gives students an avenue to make some extra income without having to change any part of their current lifestyle, especially given the low fees,” said Luciuga.

DIBS is currently active in Miami, Jacksonville and Tallahassee with plans to expand to Orlando and Tampa next month. 

Miami fans can currently use DIBS for games and other events at venues like Hard Rock Stadium, LoanDepot Park and more.

“If it really is more convenient and cheaper, I’d consider using it for concerts, UM games, or any events in Brickell or Wynwood,” said Jamie Freedman, a junior at UM and avid event-goer.

Steel’s long-term goal is to expand across the U.S. since the app scales easily city to city, but expansion is not as easy as it seems, “Building the product is one thing, but getting the word out is another. There’s the tech side, the marketing side, and then all the administrative stuff. We’re learning all of it as we go,” he said.

Steel and Merlet met with a User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX designer) to ensure intuitive flow and strong branding. 

The app itself is designed to be simple, modern and easy to navigate. It is available in the app store for both iOS (Apple) and Android users, free of charge. 

The company is focused on being a youth-driven, community-based startup, hosting giveaways and events for students, as well as offering student discounts. 

“We’re still navigating the startup world, but being local makes it exciting. We want to make parking easier and build something that actually helps people,” said Steel.

University of Miami graduate student turns her life into a novel, ‘That Night’

Skyla Thomas
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University of Miami graduate student turns her life into a novel, ‘That Night’

Kiera Atkins, a University of Miami graduate student, is making her class assignment into a novel. She’s taking her past and turning it into a fully-fledged story. 

Atkins is currently a masters student at the University of Miami, studying for an M.A. in live entertainment management. 

She graduated from Towson University with a  bachelor’s degree in electronic media and film. She recently founded her own publishing company, Starlight Dynasty Publishing and hopes to publish her first novel, “That Night: The Dynasty Series” (book one) by the end of 2025. 

The urban fiction follows four friends in Baltimore whose lives change after one night. Atkins said that this novel began just as an assignment for a class; however she expanded on her idea and incorporated some of her own experiences from growing up in Baltimore into her novel.

“The inspiration came behind myself and my life kind of growing up,” Atkins said. “Throughout the time I was [writing I] put myself into some of the characters, some of the experiences that I had over the years with my friends and things that I’ve seen in life.” 

One of the main characters, Ryann, is a basketball player who goes D1 at a college. Ryann has her friends at home and her friends at college and therefore kind of lives a double life.

The novel follows the ups and down of these four friends, Ryann, Taysean, Amir and Mark or otherwise known as Ace. But one night one decision changes the trajectory of their lives forever. The novel cycles through the twists and turns of emotions. 

“I did put a lot of my experiences because Ryann, she’s in a toxic relationship. [When] I was in college and I was just learning about myself and coming out as gay, I ended up in this bad relationship,” Atkins said. “It just so happened to be at times where I was putting myself around people I probably shouldn’t have been around.”

Atkins’ life experiences and time periods are reflected in her novel. After Atkins graduated from Towson she was working at a bank and not progressing in her career. She states that coming to Miami gave her the motivation to persevere and work on her novel. 

“I was [thinking], ‘it’s been like nine months now, since I’ve graduated. Because of the government and some of the things that have been going on, I haven’t been able to get a job.’ So that was my fuel to write this book.” Atkins said. “But going back to school and coming to Miami really made me say, ‘I think I have the confidence in myself  to actually do this.’”

Kiera Atkins uses her life experiences to write realistic characters. Photo Courtesy of Kiera Atkins.

In terms of pushing her novel into the publishing stage, Atkins explained how important it was for her to research whether to work as an independent publisher or go the big publishing route. As a self publisher, she states that a lot of funding goes into it.; however, there are many benefits to owning your own publishing brand.

“At the end of the day, everything is yours. You have the rights to that, which I’m a big believer in, because, if you want to go big, your stuff can be on merchandise and they want to be able to have control over that,” Atkins said. “So that’s why [you should] do your research on whether you really want to have someone else publish this for you or if you want to publish it.”

While Atkins is very proud of her novel, she states that it has been a long time coming. Her family members, other writers and friends have all been a part of the editing process. She urges future writers to put their work out there despite the fear of criticism.  

“Don’t be afraid to get out there and get into the community. There are a lot of people that would love to read your [work] and would love for you to read their [work] and give a review,” Atkins said. 

Atkins hopes that in the future her novels will be turned into episodes of a series. She wrote each chapter as if it was an episode.

No. 15 Miami Volleyball ousts Syracuse in four sets

Zach Cohen
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No. 15 Miami Volleyball ousts Syracuse in four sets

The No. 15 Miami Hurricanes women’s volleyball team continued its dominance in a Sunday matinee against the Syracuse Orange.

The Hurricanes fed off home-court advantage, coming into the match 11-2 at the Knight Sports Complex while Syracuse was 3-4 on the road.

The match started off highly contested, tied at 10 a piece. Miami slowly started to take a lead but the Orange came firing back and it was tied at 24-24. The sides would go back and forth for quite a while but Syracuse would ultimately take set one, 29-27.

After a shocking first set win from the Orange, Miami kicked it into high gear. Starting a 9-1 run that eventually became a 19-8 score and a 25-12 set win.

Freshman outside hitter Sonia Danilovic came up big in the second set and finished the game with 10 digs as senior Flormarie Heredia Colon continued to show why she is one of the best outside hitters in the country, tallying 33 kills.

Tied at 1-1, the Hurricanes looked for a crucial third set victory. Similar to the first set, both teams went point for point with Miami holding a 14-12 lead. After a 4-0 run, Syracuse rallied to be within two, 23-21, but Miami won the set by a slim margin, 25-23.

The fourth set started off in historic fashion. Redshirt sophomore setter Ariana Rodriguez picked up her 100th career ace. She finished her performance with three service aces and 11 digs.

Miami rode the wave in the fourth set, defeating Syracuse 25-19 and winning the match.

The Hurricanes will be back in action on Wednesday night on Nov. 5 to face Florida State at the Knight Sports Complex.

Unauthorized chicken and rooster caging near University Village

Katie Karlson
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Unauthorized chicken and rooster caging near University Village

Chickens and roosters were seen being confined in cages near the intersection of Liguria Avenue and San Amaro Drive, in front of 1530 Liguria Avenue, on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at approximately 5 p.m.

While UM has been known to authorize animal removal, as is the case with the muscovy ducks, this trapping was not approved. 

“The University is not involved, nor has it authorized, any trapping activity,” the University said in a statement to The Hurricane. “The incident is being investigated.”

A reporter with The Hurricane attempted to investigate the situation and take photos, and was told to “keep moving” by a man in a vehicle that did not appear to have UM markings.  

UM has worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the past to safely trap and remove the muscovy ducks. Since this caging was not authorized, students are unsure if the chickens and roosters are being harmed. 

This event comes a few months after documented abuse of a campus duck, raising further concern about the safety of the trapped chickens and roosters. 

“The campus animals really liven up the campus and make it different from other schools. We have animals that you wouldn’t expect to see, and it makes the campus feel more tropical, special and unique,” said Addie Murphy, a nature-lover and junior at UM. “Seeing these animals potentially being hurt is devastating and not something that anyone wants to see.” 

Other students shared similar sentiments.

“The campus animals are friendly and don’t bother anyone, so they shouldn’t be caged,” said a junior at UM who wishes to remain unnamed.  

This is a developing story.

Season-ending loss: Takeaways from Miami’s 26-20 loss to SMU

Shea Mcdonald
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Season-ending loss: Takeaways from Miami’s 26-20 loss to SMU

On Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes left Florida for the first time this season and came home empty-handed, losing in Dallas 26-20 to SMU in overtime. 

On 3rd-and-goal at the SMU seven yard line, Miami quarterback Carson Beck threw a back-breaking interception at the goal line, giving the Mustangs (6-3, 4-1 ACC) a chance to win their first top-10 victory at home since 1974.

In the ensuing possession, running back T.J. Harden punched in a one-yard touchdown to take down the ’Canes, as fans stormed the field.

Miami now falls to 6-2 on the season and has lost two of its last three, marking another disappointing November loss. Head coach Mario Cristobal is now 4-11 in his Miami tenure in the months of November and December. 

With four games left in the season, changes are going to be needed for UM to end this season on a positive note.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Freshman Wide Reciever Malachi Toney leaps over a Stanford Defender on October 26, 2025.
  1. Playoff Hopes Likely Gone

On Oct. 5, the Hurricanes were the No. 2 team in the country and vying for the best team in the nation. Less than 30 days later, Miami’s season is all but over.

With two in-conference losses, the Hurricanes likely lose out on all hope to make the College Football Playoff. 

Other two-loss hopefuls like Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, for example, will likely get the bump over Miami with losses coming against ranked opponents. 

Georgia Tech falling to NC State would have opened the door to the ACC Championship, but Miami could not hold up their end of the bargain. Now UM will need SMU and Louisville to lose multiple conference games in order to jump them in the conference standings. 

Even if things fall into place for Miami, the Hurricanes still need to win out. With 7-2 Pitt and a frisky NC State team, going undefeated the rest of the season is far from a certainty.

Sitting at No. 18 in the Week 11 AP Poll with no ranked opponents left on the schedule and two losses in an average conference, it will take a miracle for the Hurricanes to make the CFP.

The College Football Playoff show will make its first ranking on Tuesday, giving the ’Canes an estimate to their chances of making the playoffs. In all likelihood, everything points to another year with Miami falling just short.

With the most talented team of the Cristobal era, Miami needs a miracle with a month left in the season to sniff any championship. 

Mario Cristobal stares down his players pregame. Photo Credit: Brian Mulvey
  1. Penalties continue to be a legitimate problem

The Hurricanes committed 12 penalties for 96 yards. Once again, Miami was sloppy and undisciplined, and it cost the Hurricanes the game. 

Whether it was pre-snap penalties, holding calls on the offensive line, or unnecessary roughness  after the whistle, Miami again could not get out of its own way. 

As talented as this Hurricanes team is, penalties have been a problem all year for Miami, averaging just under 70 penalty yards per game. UM averages the third most penalties of any team in the nation, with 8.6.

 At a certain point you can’t overcome being an undisciplined football team. The Hurricanes had calls go against them, and it’s fair to question some of the officiating, but you have to control what you can control and Miami was unable to do that.

Miami has had this issue all year, and it has yet to be fixed, and for most of the season UM has gotten away with it, but as Saturday and the game against Louisville showed, that is not sustainable. 

3. Everyone Needs to Look in the Mirror

“Just got to be a grown man and face reality,” Cristobal said postgame. “We didn’t take care of business, and that’s completely on us.” 

This Hurricanes football team is likely going to fall short of the postseason, and that is the fault of leadership across the board. 

With one of the best offensive and defensive lines in the country, a refreshed defense that has yet to let up 30 points, and more than enough weapons, it quickly became evident that this Miami team could and should have competed for a national championship. Yet once again UM couldn’t get out of its own way. 

It’s been the trend since the fourth quarter of the game against FSU. Despite being the superior team, Miami made constant unforced errors that gave a struggling opponent life.

It is the job of Cristobal to keep guys ready to play and disciplined on the field. And as we’ve seen each year as the season wears on, Miami has had these issues derail promising seasons.

Cristobal’s recruiting and team-building prowess has been impressive, building the program up year by year. 

That being said, given the quality of the team he’s built, the expectations have grown, and in his fourth year, these gameday and discipline lapses have to fall on him. But he is not the only one to take fault; Miami’s leaders, both in the coaching staff and on the field, need to get this fixed. 

With four games left in the season, changes have to be made for Cristobal and the Hurricanes if they want to end the season on a high. 

The ’Canes (6-2, 2-2 ACC) will host the Syracuse Orange (3-6, 1-5 ACC) on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm on ESPN. 

Photo Editor Brian Mulvey // Freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) is tackled by redshirt junior defensive back Tayon Halloway (25) after a 61-yard catch on Oct. 17, 2025

Hurricanes soccer ends season with 0-0 draw to Virginia Tech

Harrison Steinberg
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Hurricanes soccer ends season with 0-0 draw to Virginia Tech

On the road in their final game of the 2025 season, the Miami Hurricanes fiercely fought to a 0-0 deadlock against the Virginia Tech Hokies. In a match characterized by several dangerous chances, the ’Canes were relieved to close the season with a point in hand.

Miami entered the match riding the high of its first ACC win of the year, a victory over the defending national champion UNC Tarheels. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, sat last in the ACC with an abysmal record of 0-8-1 within the conference. 

Despite their lack of momentum, Virginia Tech started fast. Three minutes in, a Hokies corner found the head of VT’s Syri Davis but the shot was cleared off the line by the ’Canes, and follow-up effort from just two yards out by VT’s Anna Weir was somehow saved by Miami goalkeeper Atlee Olofson with her right leg. 

The next chance came in the 33rd minute. 

Tech’s Hannah Pachan walloped an effort 25 yards out, which Olofson got her fingertips on, deflecting off the crossbar onto the feet of Lauren Carpenter. She had a chance to put it away, but was fortunately offside. 

A few more nonthreatening shots from each side brought the match to a tie at the end of the first half. Olofson closed out the first half with four saves. 

After back-and-forth play in the second half, the 85th minute brought the biggest moment of the night.

VT’s Samantha Deguzman curled a shot from the corner of the box into the top right corner over Olofson, appearing to break the deadlock. But in the buildup, the referee ruled that Deguzman had been fouled inside the box by Miami and awarded a penalty kick.

Senior Natalie Mitchell, playing in her final collegiate match, stepped up to take it but thrashed her shot off the crossbar. The rebound came straight back to her, and she headed it calmly into the net, seemingly giving the Hokies a 1-0 lead.

But since no one else had touched the ball since Mitchell’s second contact, the referee ruled no goal once again. An absolute shock to the fragmented Virginia Tech student section who was left speechless in their final game of the season. 

The match ended 0-0, in a night where the ’Canes were outshot 15-7. Olofson recorded a career-high nine saves to secure a clean sheet, clearly the player of the match for Miami.

Thursday’s match concluded head coach Ken Mashur’s second season at the helm for Miami. The Hurricanes finished 14th in the ACC with a 7-8-3 overall record (1-7-2 ACC), marking the ninth straight losing season for the ’Canes and the second under Mashur. Graduate student Brie Severns led the team with four goals, and sophomore Ciara Alarcon led with four assists. 

Miami will look to build on this season and return to winning form in 2026.

The Queen of Salsa still dances: celebrating a century of salsa and style

Jessica Valdes
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The Queen of Salsa still dances: celebrating a century of salsa and style

Singing, dancing, smiling — all things the iconic Celia Cruz is known for. But fashion? Not so much. The Miami Shoe Museum is changing that. 

To celebrate her 100th birthday, the museum partnered with the Celia Cruz Foundation to celebrate the Queen of Salsa’s legacy through a new lens.

The exhibition, called “Dancing Shoes: A Legacy in Motion,” revisited Cruz’s life and artistry through her most personal form of expression: her shoes. It’s part of a broader series of art exhibitions honoring the Queen of Salsa’s cultural impact.

“The exhibition is to honor Celia Cruz in her centennial. There are celebrations around the world.”Luis Valenzuela, founder and creator of the Miami Shoe Museum and Dancing Shoes exhibit said. “And, at the Miami Shoe Museum we did research about cantilever, which is the style of shoe she was wearing and we found out, of course, that she was really a fan of that style.”

This showcase in the Noche de Arte series highlights Miami’s blend of art, culture and innovation. This exhibition also featured the “Miami Vibes: AI Footwear Design Challenge” — a global competition merging technology, creativity and heritage.

Artists from around the world used artificial intelligence to reimagine Cruz’s  most iconic heels, including the ones she wore while touring five continents.

“This exhibition shows the special talent that she had in fashion that nobody knows,” Valenzuela said as he chuckled. “She had no stories on fashion, she was a fashion icon without knowing.”

As guests walked into the gallery, the sound of Cruz’s voice filled the room, but it wasn’t from a stage; it was from a record player spinning her classic hits. Screens around the gallery showed videos of her talk-show appearances and performances, where her infectious laughter and energy filled the room. 

Visitors could see Cruz dancing through an interactive hologram on their phones via QR code. Every step into the exhibit brought them deeper into the world that Cruz built from the ground up. 

Each display revolved around the shoes that carried her through decades of performances. Glittering platforms, bold colors and her signature cantilever heels were the glue that connected her music to her dancing. They weren’t just fashion statements; they were symbols of strength.

“She started using those shoes in the sixties and the seventies. So, we have original shoes from her collection that shows her personality as well. Because, for me, Celia had a lot of challenges in her life and the cantilever challenged gravity as well,” Valenzuela said.

Guests later gathered for a moment of silence outside the exhibit, overlooking Cruz’s original heels. Then, the celebration began. They sang “Happy Birthday” to Cruz and shouted her signature “¡Azúcar!” Guests then shared their favorite memories of Celia over delicious cupcakes.

Visitors also left handwritten messages on paper heels for the “Walk in my shoes,” or “Ponte en mis zapatos,” wall – tributes to a woman who continues to inspire generations.

A century after her birth, the Queen of Salsa still sings, dances and smiles through every step she ever took.

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