By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Over the past four years, Jim Tobin’s Hornell Red Raiders have taken incremental steps forward.
In 2023, Hornell ended a decade-plus title drought winning Class B1 before falling to Haverling in the regional qualifier. Two years later, Tobin’s squad claimed Class B but suffered a 7-1 drubbing in the regional at the hands of eventual state champion East Aurora of Section VI. In 2024, the Red Raiders took a second straight B crown before falling again to East Aurora again in the state quarterfinal. That final count, though, was 1-0.
The current Hornell squad is 13-0-2 on the season and after winning their third game in four nights, the Red Raiders look primed for another postseason run.
“We created a lot of good offense tonight,” Tobin said after Hornell’s 3-nil victory over Wilson/Early College at Thurgood Marshall Middle School on the Charlotte Campus, Friday night. “It was nice.”
Marco Picco found the back of the net twice in the first half, and Wyatt Evingham added a second-half strike to pace the offense.
“The pass work, I was pleased,” Tobin said. “It’s been a rough week. We had a game last night, so I was really worried about whether they would have their legs.”
Picco wasted little time jumpstarting the offense. The senior midfielder took a ball back from Evingham and tucked a blast from 20 yards out under the crossbar.
Picco doubled the advantage with 3:38 remaining in the first half. Evingham again set up the play.
7’ Marco Picco goes top shelf to give Hornell a 1-nil lead. Brilliant ball back from Wyatt Evingham to set up the shot. @SecVBoysSoccer pic.twitter.com/zI2XFrytdn
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2025
36’ Rocket off the foot of Marco Picco gives Hornell a 2-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/opQUAWOkEm
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2025
“I was worried that we needed to possess and keep playing offense, and we did,” Tobin said of his message at halftime to his squad. “We did well tonight with that.”
Evingham capped the scoring less than seven minutes into second half. The senior midfielder took a a Gabriel Rasephei cross from the right wing and finished opposite post for his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
Evingham’s nine assists also top the Hornell attack.
47’ Wyatt Evingham finishes off a Jayden Rasephei cross to give Hornell a 3-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/i4QPSns0tA
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2025
“What you saw tonight is what we see in practice,” Tobin said of Evingham. “He loves the game of soccer. He plays soccer year round. He’s very competitive, but the thing that sets him apart is he works. He’s always pushing himself and always pushing the team. That’s a good leader.”
Alfie Whiteley made five saves in the shutout – Hornell’s sixth straight clean sheet. The Red Raiders have outscored opponents by a combined total of 50-4 this season.
Hornell defeated league foe Wayland-Cohocton on Thursday, 2-0.
“Unfortunately, the last couple of years as we do advance and get further along, the Buffalo teams are more prone to playing this style of soccer. We’re not used to this. In our league everything is more physical. Tonight was more free-flowing. It was nice to watch. Hopefully, this will be good for us.”
Wilson’s Yassan Ali drilled the crossbar off a free kick from 19 yards out.
“He’s as good as anyone we see,” Tobin said of the senior forward. “They’re dangerous up top. At halftime we had two, and I wasn’t quite sure that was going to be enough.”
Yassan Ali came this close to getting Wilson on the scoreboard. pic.twitter.com/iA0FnoVsWM
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2025
Wilson/Early College keeper Armando Hassan made eight saves. The Wildcats (3-8-0) travel to Irondequoit for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Monday.
Another big save from Armando Hassan. This time the Wilson keeper prevents Marco Picco from getting a hat trick. pic.twitter.com/Xa2F8AkUS0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2025
With one week remaining in the regular season, Hornell is one of seven remaining unbeaten teams in Section V Boys’ Soccer along with Fairport (Class AAA/12-0-0), Churchville-Chili (AA/12-0-1), East Rochester (C1/12-0-1), Kendall (C2/15-0-0), Naples (C2/14-0-0) and Fillmore (D1/14-0-0). The Red Raiders host Rochester Prep in their regular season finale on Monday.
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