Mater Lakes' Dominguez, Gulliver's Vaughan are Dade Water Polo Coaches of the Year
Gulliver coach Carroll Vaughan had seen her girls' water polo squads endure heartbreak for several years at the state tournament.
That finally changed this season.
Meanwhile, Nelson Dominguez has helped turn the Mater Lakes boys' team into a powerhouse.
The Bears experienced the pain of coming up short of a state title albeit in a breakthrough season for the program.
For their efforts, Vaughan and Dominguez are this year's Miami Herald Miami-Dade Water Polo Coaches of the Year.
Vaughan led the Raiders to the state final four times since the prior time Gulliver won a state title in 2013.
This season, Gulliver cleared the final hurdle with an impressive comeback win over Seminole in the state championship game.
It was Vaughan's second state title as the Raiders coach.
And with most of their players returning including freshman goalie Sofia Beltran, the Dade Girls' Player of the Year, it may be the first in a sustained run for the Raiders.
We had been preparing for this for years,' Vaughan said after Gulliver's championship victory. 'We had some great practices this week. We talked about falling behind and staying in our game.'
Mater Lakes hopes next season will bring such a breakthrough as Dominguez, the Boys' Coach of the Year, also returns a loaded squad led by Boys' Player of the Year, Noslen De La Puente.
The Bears advanced to the state tournament for the first time in program history as the state's No. 1-ranked team, and did so by navigating through the state's toughest region after wins over Cutler Bay, Gulliver and Ransom Everglades.
Mater Lakes came up on the short end of a 10-9 loss in the state final to first-time state champ Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy.
But the Bears figure to have the core they need to make it back next season.
'We feel like we didn't lose. We only learned and we keep moving forward,' Dominguez said after the state final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lionel Messi Makes FIFA Club World Cup History With Inter Miami Goal vs FC Porto
Lionel Messi Makes FIFA Club World Cup History With Inter Miami Goal vs FC Porto originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Inter Miami were not considered favorites in getting out of Group A of the FIFA Club World Cup, but they still couldn't be counted out due to the team having Lionel Messi. Advertisement The Argentine star is the best player of the team and was close to giving Inter Miami a win in its first game of the Club World Cup last Friday. The MLS side drew 0-0 against Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium. Today, they took on FC Porto, who were the favorites to advance as leaders of Group A ahead of Inter Miami, Al Ahly, and Palmeiras. The Portuguese side drew 0-0 against Palmeiras this past weekend. Porto were the heavy favorites against Inter Miami and demonstrated that when they took the lead early. A foul in the box in the first three minutes of the match led to Porto being awarded a penalty. Samu Aghehowa converted the penalty to give FC Porto the lead, and they kept the scoreline at halftime. What came next led to history. Lionel Messi's Historic Free-Kick Before Messi's goal, Inter Miami found the equalizer in the 47th minute after a great finish in the box by Telasco Segovia. Inter Miami picked up momentum and led to a free kick near the box. Advertisement In the 54th minute, Messi scored past Cláudio Ramos to give Inter Miami the lead. The goal is Messi's 68th free-kick goal of his career. The goal made history for Messi in the FIFA Club World Cup and gave Inter Miami the 2-1 win. Messi officially became the Argentine with the most goals in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup. He now has six goals in the competition's history, overtaking Cesar Delgado's five goals, who played with C.F. Monterrey in previous editions of the Club World Cup. This goal is also Messi's 50th goal for Inter Miami. He needed just 61 appearances to reach this new goal milestone for Inter Miami. Near Cristiano Ronaldo's CWC Record When records are discussed, it is hard to avoid comparing with Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains the all-time top goalscorer of the FIFA Club World Cup. Ronaldo has scored seven goals, the most of any player in this competition. Advertisement That record is expected to be surpassed in the next few years if the Club World Cup continues with this new format of 32 teams. Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala scored a hat-trick last weekend in their 10-0 win against Auckland City. It goes to show players could start getting close to that record of seven goals. Messi's achievement as the Argentine with the most goals in the FIFA Club World Cup may be more difficult to surpass anytime soon Inter Miami Close to the Knockout Stage Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Porto puts them closer to the knockout stage. Inter Miami is second in Group A with four points after two games. Advertisement They only need a point against Palmeiras to advance to the Round of 16. The MLS team plays the Brazilian team on Monday at the Hard Rock Stadium. Palmeiras also need a point to advance, meaning if the game ends in a draw, both teams advance. Inter Miami is second due to goal difference. The MLS team has a +1 goal difference, scoring two goals and conceding one so far in the tournament. Palmeiras has a +2 goal difference, having scored two goals and conceded no goals. Related: Watch: Lamine Yamal and Neymar Reunite in Viral Beach Soccer Clip from Brazil Related: Lionel Messi's Perfect Tournament Record at Risk Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Boca Juniors Fans Pray For A Bayern Munich Victory
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 20: Joao Palhinha #16 of FC Bayern Munchen scores his team's first ... More goal past Manuel Neuer #1 of FC Bayern Munchen during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C match between FC Bayern München and CA Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium on June 20, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Boca Juniors fans will be praying for a Bayern Munich victory over Benfica in the final round of Group C fixtures. If Benfica wins or draws against Bayern, the Buenos Aires side will be eliminated regardless of the result in its match against Auckland City. Boca Lights Up Miami Boca Juniors fans have invaded Miami, Florida over the last week, creating a sea of yellow and blue for the fixture against Bayern Munich at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The noise brought by travelling fans would make you think the game was being held in Buenos Aires. South Beach has been taken over by Boca banners and tens of thousands of supporters too, as the side from Argentina joins the other South American nations in spreading fanfare through what has otherwise been a rather subdued Club World Cup. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 15: Fans of Boca Juniors cheer for their team during a fan gathering on the ... More sidelines of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at North Beach Oceanside Park on June 15, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by) The atmosphere in Boca's fixtures has been electric and that has completely galvanised the team on the field too. On paper Bayern Munich and Benfica were set to sweep past Boca, but that has proved far from the case. Big Boca Performances Boca Juniors stunned the world by going 2-0 up against Benfica in their opening fixture. Only to be pegged back by two goals from Benfica's Argentina internationals; Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi. In hindsight that might seem like two points dropped, but Boca would certainly have taken it before the game. Then, Boca were minutes away from another tie with European opposition as German giants Bayern Munich needed a very late 2-1 winner to clinch 3 points. MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 20: Michael Olise #17 of FC Bayern Munchen celebrates scoring his ... More team's second goal with Leroy Sane #10 and Josip Stanisic #44 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C match between FC Bayern München and CA Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium on June 20, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by) Stars Harry Kane and Michael Olise made the difference for Bayern either side of a fantastic Boca Juniors goal from Miguel Merentiel which lifted the roof off the Hard Rock stadium. It was a moment of delirium for Boca fans that will enter the history books regardless how this tournament finishes for them. Bayern Must Defeat Benfica Now there is just one game remaining for each side in Group C. On Tuesday Bayern Munich takes on Benfica and Boca Juniors faces whipping boys Auckland City. The team from New Zealand has a goal difference of -16 over two games. Boca must win and Benfica must lose for the team from Argentina to have any chance of progressing to the next round. However if this occurs Boca also needs a seven goal swing in its favor. Boca currently holds a -1 goal difference and Benfica is on +6. Luckily for Boca, Auckland has conceded an average of eight goals per game in this tournament. On the other hand, Benfica needs only a draw against a Bayern team that has now qualified for the next round and may opt to rest some players. It is almost certain that Boca will put a handful of goals past Auckland, but it is definitely not certain whether or not Bayern Munich will do the team from Argentina a favor. MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 20: A general view of match action at Hard Rock Stadium as fans of ... More Boca Juniors put out banners and flags during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C match between FC Bayern Munchen and CA Boca Juniors at Hard Rock Stadium on June 20, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mascherano urges Miami to embrace 'historical' chance
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano says his team cannot play for a draw against Brazilian club Palmeiras in the Club World Cup on Monday. (Kevin C. Cox) Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano says Monday's meeting with Brazil's Palmeiras in the final game of Club World Cup Group A is a historical moment for the MLS club and says his team should relish the game. Miami's shock win over Porto, secured via a brilliant free-kick from Lionel Messi, has left them with a chance of making it to the last 16 of the tournament. Advertisement And while the club, which only began playing five years ago, would advance with a draw, their Argentine coach doesn't want his players leaving anything to chance. "We're facing possibly one of the most important games in the history of our club. Above all, let that fill us with enthusiasm to be able to play it, let it not be a burden but an excitement and a challenge for this group of players who have been doing well up until now," said Mascherano. "It would be a big mistake if we went into it thinking about not playing it and only about the result. I think that when you think about the result certain things can happen during the game that make it very difficult to get back into the game," he said. "In the end, our idea is to go and win the game like we've always done, like every time we go into a game, whether it's in the Club World Cup, MLS, the Champions League, or any other competition we're involved in," he said. Advertisement But while Miami, whose form in MLS was patchy heading into the tournament, may be confident after beating Portuguese opposition in Atlanta, Mascherano also cautioned against being too gung-ho. "We clearly want to win it through a plan. We don't go crazy, knowing that we have to minimise many of Palmeiras' strengths and try to take advantage of and expose their weaknesses" he said. Mascherano could be boosted by the return to full fitness of Spanish full-back Jordi Alba who missed the draw against Al Ahly with injury and played the last 11 minutes against Porto. "Physically, I feel good. Obviously, I was out for three weeks without playing, but honestly, it doesn't feel like a big gap since there was an international break during that time. I didn't really miss much. Now we'll see what the coach decides," he said. Advertisement "Playing against elite teams only sharpens us as a team, and if we reach the knockout rounds, just imagine how high our ceiling could be. I really believe we're doing things the right way, and we have to keep it going," he said. sev/rcw
