Blaze Riorden is the best goalie in the world – and is considered the best player in the world by some. The praise isn’t unwarranted because the five-time All-Star gives his team a chance to win each week with big-time saves and an elite competitive drive. 

The four-time Oren Lyons Goaltender of the Year has never shied away from making big plays. 

In 2015 with Albany, Riorden intercepted a pass in his crease during the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Cornell. After seeing space in front of him, he took the ball coast to coast, pulling off a spin dodge through two defenders and throwing a mean stick fake before scoring the goal of the season as a goalie. 

It left everyone in shock. 

“In 2015, I had no clue he would actually take it coast to coast,” ESPN and PLL analyst Paul Carcaterra said. “As that play kind of escalated the intensity and the possibility of what it could be, it was almost like a snowball just heading down a mountain. You just knew where it was going later in the play.”

Riorden plays attack for the Philadelphia Wings in the indoor National Lacrosse League and has always had excellent offensive skills. Against Cornell, Riorden showed those skills for the first time as a field goalie. 

In the PLL, the 2021 Jim Brown Most Valuable Player has showcased his offensive skill through his outlet passing ability, which has led to 12 career assists – the most among goalies. 

On Sunday, against the Carolina Chaos’s Western Conference rival Utah Archers, Riorden did the unthinkable when he left the cage and scored his first professional goal. 

AN UNREAL WAY TO START THIS GAME 🤯@BRiorden10 https://t.co/Bxe0jyO7BH pic.twitter.com/IgtHweAI1c

— Carolina Chaos (@PLLChaos) August 4, 2024

Just like in 2015, the moment left everyone stunned. It was the second goal ever scored by a goalie in the PLL and the eighth in professional history. 

Most people in attendance in Baltimore weren’t there for Riorden’s goal with Albany, but Troy Reh and Carcaterra were. Reh was a teammate of Riorden’s at Albany, like he is now with the Chaos, and Carcaterra was on the broadcast for both games. 

“This goal was different because he was playing against the highest level,” Reh said. “Starting a game off with the first goal from him brought added juice and momentum to a big rivalry game.” 

The juice Riorden gave the team helped propel the offense to score 15 goals in Carolina’s best game of the year. 

The moment Riorden left the cage, there was added excitement in the broadcast booth. 

“My brain went to 2015 when he started running up the field in Baltimore this past weekend,” Carcaterra explained. “I think his style of play, and just the pure excitement of a goalie doing something like that, makes you kind of throw out some rules as a broadcaster. So without 2015, I don't think my brain would have triggered and been so aggressive in regards to the call, and the overall, you know, joy and anxiety of it was definitely heightened because of what happened in 2015.”

Riorden’s goal for Albany came late in the third quarter with the Great Danes holding a comfortable six-score lead. Sunday’s was different, opening the scoring just minutes into the game. 

“They were rolling against Cornell offensively. It was like a cherry on top,” Carcaterra said. “This one was like, 'OK, we're having some problems generating offense. If the big guy in cage is the one who gets us going, so be it.' I think it probably gave the rest of the team a belief.”

Riorden unintentionally may have scored the biggest juice goal of all time. What made it even better was that he recorded his 1,000th career save later in the game, which the Chaos went on to win 15-14. 

Thanks in large part to Riorden's contributions in and out of the crease, the Chaos have remained in the playoff race this year. The win over the Archers kept them within a half-game of first place in the Western Conference. Carolina can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win or California Redwoods loss and is in contention for a first-round bye. 

Riorden’s excellent play this season has given the Chaos the chance to steal some wins and catch its stride late ahead of the playoffs. If the team peaks at the right time, a lot of the credit and praise can go to Riorden and the defense. 

“I believe he is the best player in the world, and his play and this goal solidifies that,” Reh said. 

No player in the world has as much impact on a game as Riorden. The closest player this season has been Jeff Teat, who is having a record-breaking year with the New York Atlas. 

Teat’s impact is felt solely on the offensive side of the field, but Riorden’s is felt everywhere because of his ability to jump-start transition offense with his passing ability and his top-class shot-stopping skills. 

An argument could be made for Tom Schreiber, who has long been the best midfielder in the PLL and exhibits his class each season. His impact on the Archers is felt through his leadership and the unbelievable skill he puts on display each week. 

The "best player in the world debate" will continue, and everyone will have a different opinion on which player it is. But Riorden’s first career goal and 1,000th save provided nice boosts to his candidacy.