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Saint Joseph’s has added two Maryland midfielders to its 2028 recruiting class — a sign the Hawks are deepening a fast-growing pipeline from the state’s top private-school circuit. The pair committed within the last two weeks, reinforcing a regional strategy that could matter for the Hawks’ short- and mid-term competitiveness in the conference.
From Baltimore-area prep schools to Hawk Hill
Ben Mather, a midfielder at McDonogh, and Matthew Westervelt, who plays at John Carroll, are both rated as three-star prospects and join a group of recruits drawn from the MIAA, Maryland’s premier private-school league. Their commitments bring the program’s recent MIAA haul to six players — including three already on the 2027 roster and another prospect arriving next year.
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The signings are fresh evidence that Saint Joseph’s recruiting staff has built momentum in a region it previously underused. For a program trying to sustain progress in the Atlantic 10, tapping familiar local pipelines shortens the distance between identification and impact.
What sold each player
Mather cited a mix of campus fit and off-field opportunities as decisive factors. He described the university’s grounds as unexpectedly spacious for its West Philadelphia location and said the combination of team spirit and academic offerings — particularly in business — set Saint Joseph’s apart from other options.
Westervelt emphasized the team’s daily habits and the staff’s direction. He praised a culture that pairs competitive intensity with peer support, and he singled out the program’s facilities — from the locker room to the indoor training space — as part of the appeal. Crucially, he said Saint Joseph’s presented a clearer pathway to career preparation after lacrosse.
- Ben Mather — McDonogh (Class of 2028); attracted by campus, team culture, coaching and business studies.
- Matthew Westervelt — John Carroll (Class of 2028); drawn to work ethic, staff rapport, facilities and post-college preparation.
- Both — three-star midfielders playing in the MIAA, committed in the past two weeks.
Program trajectory and stakes
Saint Joseph’s lacrosse has been on a steady climb since a breakout season in 2014. The Hawks have produced winning records in most years since and repeatedly qualified for their conference’s postseason field, including each of their first three seasons after joining the Atlantic 10. Tournament titles in 2022 and 2024 led to NCAA first-round appearances, and last spring the team advanced to the A‑10 championship game before falling to Richmond.
That sustained competitiveness matters now: the program is trying to convert momentum into deeper runs in the conference and more consistent national relevance. Bringing in recruits from the MIAA — a robust high-school lacrosse region — gives coach Scott Meehan and his staff a locally tested talent pool and players who arrive culturally prepared for the program’s style.
What comes next
Mather and Westervelt will finish two final high-school seasons at McDonogh and John Carroll, respectively. Both programs are looking to elevate their results under current coaches while the players continue developing physically and tactically.
When they arrive on campus, they will join a team that has set higher expectations under Meehan and that views regional recruiting as a way to build continuity. The combination of on-field performance, coaching stability and targeted scouting of the MIAA could shorten the timeline for Saint Joseph’s to make deeper postseason runs.
For the Hawks, the recent commitments are less a headline-grabbing splash than a strategic step: local talent, clear academic fits and players who said they buy into a team-first approach. If that pattern holds, Saint Joseph’s may keep converting nearby prep-school standouts into contributors at Hawk Hill.
