camino real

A season that began with uncertainty ended in triumph Wednesday night in Woodland Hills, where the Dolphins outscored El Camino Real 14-5 to capture their 10th City Section boys championship, ninth in 10 years and fifth straight under head coach Dave Bucchino.

El Camino Real scored twice in the first four minutes to grab an early lead.

Matthew Belden had three goals and Garett Pike scored the other two for host and No. 2-seeded El Camino Real, which was eager to avenge two lopsided league losses during the regular season.

In the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Palisades’ girls squad won its third straight section crown under head coach Dexter O’Connell with a 12-3 victory over El Camino Real.

Kailani Mercury, Desarae Estana and Taylor Christensen all scored for El Camino Real, which beat Palisades in the 2021 and 2022 finals, but lost to the Dolphins 13-7 in last year’s title game.