Home Sports Survival looking solid in home opener, ready for the big guns

Survival looking solid in home opener, ready for the big guns

Survival School’s field lax squad got its first tour of the pitch Wednesday, and looked good against an upstart Beaconsfield team. The true tests of the season, however, are yet to come. (Daniel J. RoweThe Eastern Door)

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A quality, consistent and disciplined 14-3 win was a nice start for Kahnawake Survival School’s field lacrosse team against Beaconsfield High School at home Wednesday, but the true test of the team’s ability is yet to come.

Survival controlled the majority of the game to start their GMAA (Greater Montreal Athletic Association) season, as it looks to unseat five-time champions Howard S. Billings this year, and end their neighbour’s dominance in the sport by season’s end.

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Graduating forward Jake Rice makes a slick pass to rookie Kaymen Diabo, who showed he’s one of the young ones to watch on KSS’s squad this year. (Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door)

Coach Eddy Dickson, all smiles after the game, had few complaints about his team’s performance.
“It was kind of surprising because I think we only had two decent practices,” said Dickson. “I was unsure coming into this game because we have a bunch of new guys, who I’ve just met recently. They played a smart game along with very solid discipline.”

“It was nice. Defence was on point, and it was a smooth game,” assistant coach Loren McComber added. “Penalties were minimal and we can clean those up a little bit – some of the personal fouls.”

One new guy was Kaymen Diabo, who put on his Muskie jersey for the first time, along with a half-dozen other rookies.

“I was kind of nervous at first,” said Diabo. “The guys are a lot older and bigger. There are a lot of hard slashes out there.”

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Survival’s ball movement, discipline and defence was solid against Beaconsfield, but the true test of the team’s talent starts today against Kuper Academy. (Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door)

Diabo, though a touch shorter than many of the players on the pitch, is not a grade seven to be taken lightly, however, as he showed his skill in attack shortly after entering the game.

“After I felt the first slash, it wasn’t that bad,” said Diabo. “I went into it and got my first two goals of high school.”

The question remains, as it has for the past five years: can KSS beat Billings?

“I think we can,” said Diabo. “We have a good team, and I think the only two good people on their team are Stone (Jacobs) and Koleton (Marquis).”

Marquis was seated in the bleachers Wednesday and said his team looked pretty good.

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Do not underestimate diminutive runner Kaymen Diabo, as the grade seven up-and-comer netted two in his first high school field game. (Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door)

Jacobs, Marquis and the rest of the Blazers squad will hit the field today against Beaconsfield. Survival hosts Kuper Academy, the other heavyweight in the league, at the Sports Complex field today at 3:45 p.m.

Kuper plays Billings Thursday and May 18 is the much-anticipated KSS v. Billings matchup on the last day of the regular season.

“Those are the games that are circled on our schedule,” said McComber.

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Daniel J. Rowe is an award-winning reporter and photographer originally from BC. In addition to journalism, he produces and edits a Shakespeare-inspired blog and podcast called the Bard Brawl. His writing has also appeared in the Montreal Gazette, Canadian Press, U.S. Lacrosse magazine and elsewhere. His facial hair rotates with the season, and he’s recently discovered the genius of wearing a cowboy hat. He wrote for The Eastern Door from 2011 to 2019.