SAN DIEGO — In a defensive battle, the Grossmont College Griffins defeated the Palomar Comets 8-6 at the Joan Kroc Center Pool in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams. 

Grossmont (7-4, 1-0 PCAC) played at a slower pace than normal as they decided to play the clock game against the Comets (5-7, 0-1 PCAC). 

Ryland Humphrey led the Griffins with a hat trick of goals. Also joining in on the fun, Alex Wenzel had a pair of goals while Austin Wenzel and Ryan Beery each scored once. 

Goalie Eric Bates limited the damage by Palomar as he had 15 saves.

After the first quarter, it was tied 1-1. 

Both teams got the offense going in the second quarter as the Griffins put four in the net, while allowing just two to make it 5-3 Griffins at the break. 

It was another 3-2 quarter in the third for the Griffins to make it 8-5 going into the final quarter. 

Palomar got the final goal of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. 

The Griffins will travel to the Desert to take on Crafton Hills in Yucaipa next Wednesday in another PCAC match.