GRIFFINS BACK 2 BACK CHAMPS, DRAW RIVERSIDE IN REGIONALS

CHULA VISTA — The Grossmont College Men's Water Polo team defeated Southwestern College 13-6 to win the 2022 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championship. 

This is the second consecutive year that Grossmont has won the title. 

Ryan Beery (67g, 17a) and Ryland Humphrey (50g, 10a) scored the first three goals of the match and the Griffins (17-9, 7-0 PCAC) never looked back as Grossmont would never trail in the Championship final.  Southwestern (22-7, 4-2 PCAC) would score twice before the Griffins closed out the quarter on another 3-0 run. 

In the second quarter, the Jags scored three times to make it 6-5.  Grossmont would score another three in the quarter and seven over the second, third and beginning of the fourth quarter.  Southwestern finally broke through in the waning moments of the match to stop the onslaught. 

The Griffins were in a sharing mood as six of the seven goal scorers had a pair of goals.  Humphrey was joined by Beery, Ethan Lawler (24g, 6a), Austin Wenzel (52g, 14a), Casey Schwettmann (23g, 8a) and Joseph Asaro (8g, 30a) with a pair of goals.  Raul Rico (28g, 10a) scored once as well.  Berry had five assists on the day.  Donald Nelson (2), Wenzel (2), Humphrey (1) and Asaro (1) all had assists. 

In goal, Eric Bates (16-9) got the win with eight saves from 14 SWC shots. 

"I'm really proud of how far our team has come," head coach Tyrent Lackey said.  "In our first match with SWC we struggled to defend the Hastings brothers who combined for nine goals.  In the final we only allowed the duo to one goal." 

The Hastings (Ethan (107) and Nicholas (66)) finished as first and third in goal scoring in the PCAC this season. 

"We committed hard this year on improving our individual and team defense.  I think that came through at the end of the season.  Limiting Mesa to five goals in the semi-finals (shutting them out in the fourth quarter) and holding SWC to six in the finals, while almost holding them scoreless in the second half." 

Saturday night it was announced that the Griffins would face Riverside (11-21) in the first round of the CCCAA Southern California Regionals on Thursday (Nov. 10) at Long Beach City College.  The Tigers came in fourth in the OEC as they lost to Orange Coast in the Third-place game 12-10 on Saturday. 

"Riverside is going to provide a tough match up for us," coach Lackey stated.  "They are a very good team, always well coached and deep on the bench.  We suffered a four-goal loss to them back in early October.  But I think the guys are looking forward to the challenge."