Akweks advance to field lacrosse semis

The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Akweks were supposed to face off against Westwood High School in the first round of the Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) field lacrosse playoffs, but they will instead advance directly to the semifinals after Westwood forfeited their Tuesday night matchup.

Al Jones, head coach of the Akweks lacrosse team, said that he was not given a reason for Westwood’s forfeit.

They will have to wait until Friday to learn who their semifinals opponent will be, as they will face the winner between Howard S. Billings and College Jean-de-Brebeuf - two of the teams the Akweks defeated in their perfect regular season.

KSS beat Billings on the road 21-7 on May 7 and finished their regular season with the 12-7 win over Brebeuf at home on May 13.

Even so, Jones said it’s not time for the team to rest on its laurels.

“We have to take care of our business, one step at a time. We’ve still got to beat either of them again. It’s always tough to beat teams two times in a row,” said Jones.

“We can’t count our chickens before they hatch.”

The good news for KSS is that, as the second-highest playoff seed, their semifinals game, which will take place on May 27 at 4 p.m. will be at home no matter what.

In fact, their only away game of the playoffs would be if they meet the first seed, Stanstead College, in the finals once again.

Last year’s finals match saw Stanstead beat KSS by double digits in Kahnawake, something KSS will be working hard to avoid this time around.

But first, KSS has to get through the semifinals, and Stanstead has two playoff rounds to play.

No matter who or where the finals will be played, they will be taking place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

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