Long before the 2022 soccer season started, Bayfield head coach Chris Zoltowski knew he had a special striker stashed in a sizable incoming freshman class.
Ayden Casillas might still have been shrouded in psuedo-secrecy in July or August, but that veil’s been lifted, even though the Wolverines have played just three matches through the first 10 days of September.
“We were able to, like, during summer camp go up to Grand Junction and have a little pickup game with Junction. They train out where we play during camp,” Zoltowski said during a preseason interview. “So we just decided to get together and have a kick-around. And Ayden scored three of our goals, out of four. Like, he got a hat trick against a 4A school!”
Dubbed “Tilden 2.0” by Zoltowski, in reference to former BHS standout Tilden Berriman – who advanced to the NCAA Division II ranks with CSU-Pueblo – Casillas completed Bayfield’s home opener Tuesday having netted five goals of the Wolverines’ eight to date.
The varsities’ kickoff Tuesday against New Mexico’s Kirtland Central was delayed nearly 90 minutes a fast-moving thunderstorm. When it began, Casillas wasted no time and scored in the first 10 minutes. Casillas added a 43rd-minute goal shortly after halftime, and fellow freshman Zach Hufnagel clinched BHS a 3-0 shutout with a marker 30 minutes later.
Defenders Andy Monger and Shae Railsback helped thwart several KCHS scoring chances late, and first-year senior goalkeeper Kaedon Rademacher earned the win in net. Senior Jerrett Guillory took the loss as the Broncos fell to 0-5-3 (0-0-0 NMAA Dist. 1-4A).
Bayfield (2-1, 0-0 CHSAA 3A Southwestern) will next see action Tuesday when 4A Aztec (New Mexico) visits Wolverine Country Stadium. The troubled Tigers are 0-7 and will also play BHS archrival Pagosa Springs on Saturday.
