Akweks laxers off to good start

Kahnawake Survival School (KSS)’s boys’ field lacrosse team, the defending Greater Montreal Athletic Association (GMAA) champions, are 1-0 to start their six-game season after a 13-2 win against Pierrefonds Community High School.

“We started out with a few first game jitters. The start was a little slow, but then as we moved in the game, our strategies started coming into play, and we started capitalizing with some goals,” said Al Jones, the KSS Akweks’ field lacrosse head coach.

“On the back end, our goalie and defense closed the door to help our offence be able to perform and produce. It was a very good game as a whole.”

Jones said this year’s team has nine new players, most of whom have never played field lacrosse, but their experience playing box lacrosse together gives them a head start on gaining experience in the different field of play.

“They’re very talented. Them playing minor lacrosse together, you can see the translation on the field, the familiarity, and they move the ball really well,” he said.

“I do have to slow these guys down. We have two really set plays that help us with that, and then finding the matchup you want. So, you move the ball around the field, wait for the matchup, and then you can use the field to clear out. We’ve been working on that a lot.”

Practice has been about getting the players up to speed on the set plays, plus working on their conditioning - vital for field lacrosse - and the power play, which Jones described as being almost the same as it is in box, drawing in players and dumping the ball to open teammates.

A new addition this year is the implementation of a second shot clock, although it did not matter much in KSS’s first game.

“They score pretty quickly, they find the matchups pretty quickly, and then they went to the net, so it wasn’t much of a factor,” said Jones.

“I find that it is more for stalling; they don’t want teams to stall. We play a pretty fast-paced game, so we don’t really get in much trouble.”

Their second game of the season will have been played against Kuper Academy on April 30, after The Eastern Door’s publishing deadline.

Jones said that playing at home has its advantages.

“It really does help hearing support on the sidelines from your family and friends. It definitely makes you put it in another gear to perform,” said Jones.

“We’re also more familiar with our field. That really does make a difference. You know certain areas where the ball will slow down, or the ball will be faster when it’s rolling. And I like that we have a natural surface, it makes for a little softer and different bounce with the shots. I like to use bounce shots because they’re hard to read, especially on a natural field.”

While it won’t be a cakewalk to repeat as champions, Jones said he feels his team has what it takes to get there.

“We’re definitely capable,” said Jones.

“I believe we’re on target to finish very successfully this season. We can’t count our eggs before they hatch, and we have to make sure to stay focused and work towards it.”

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