The Keystone Conference might not start for a few weeks but the teams involved are already active.

This weekend, St. Joseph’s takes on West Chester in a clash of Keystone teams that isn’t a conference game. For St. Joe’s, it’s a chance to see if the 100-plus they put on the US Merchant Marine Academy was just an early-season blip on the part of Kings Point, or an indication that the Hawks are about to take wing.

St. Joe’s has good numbers in the early weeks of practice, but Head Coach Dan Yarusso remembers the fact that last fall, his team just barely edged West Chester 34-32.

“I would like to see continuity between our forwards and backs begin to take shape,” added Yarusso. “And I would also like to see how some of our new players fill the holes of recently-graduated players.” 

There are several new players who looks good, including freshman Noah Niumataiwalu (Archmere), a snappy addition to a backline that includes senior Jimmy Wolfer and juniors Aram Keshgegian and Chris Curcio (Curcio played with Niumataiwalu at Archmere).

Up front, super senior Justin Young continues to show good form and youngsters George Harris and Collin Johnson have been playing well.

St. Joe’s went 4-0 in conference play last year, but, as Yarusso pointed out, it was a close-run thing. The Hawks are used to things being a little less nail biting. This weekend’s game might be a harbinger for the fall.

West Chester gave St. Joe's all they could hand in the fall of 2015. Paul Chapple photo.