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Carolina Chaos goalie Blaze Riorden

Every angle of Blaze Riorden’s incredible goalie goal

By Hayden Lewis | Aug 4, 2024

Blaze Riorden is the best goalie in the world. On Sunday against the Utah Archers, the four-time Oren Lyons Goaltender of the Year proved why many people also consider him the best player in the world. 

Here’s what happened:

A goalie goal. It was the first goal of Riorden’s professional career and the second ever by a goaltender in the Premier Lacrosse League. 

It was Riorden’s 13th career point (1G, 12A) – the most by any goaltender all-time – and it sent the lacrosse and sports worlds into a frenzy. 

Riorden’s magical moment, which came in a thrilling 15-14 win over the Western Conference-leading Archers in Baltimore, garnered more high praise from his teammates and coaches. 

“As long as I’ve known him, he’s been the best player on every team that I’ve played on,” Kyle Jackson said. 

The compliments didn’t end there. 

“When you have Blaze in net, you just probably know he’s going to make a save here’,” Jackson continued. “With having that reliability in net, it allows our offense, especially up to this point, to figure it out and find our groove, because he’s kept us in all these games.”

Chaos head coach and general manager Andy Towers referred to Riorden as an "alien" last week and had more praise for his netminder after Sunday’s game. 

“He’s proven beyond a doubt that he’s the best goalie on the planet,” Towers remarked. “I think he’s proved that he’s the best player on the planet.”

Towers added: “He’s got ice in his veins, and we’re all really, really happy that he’s on our team. It’s hard to not, you know, be a fan during the game with everything that he does for our team. He gives us a shot to win every single game and gives us a shot to win the PLL Championship.”

Riorden answered questions about his goal and play much differently than Towers and Jackson. For Blaze, who scored perhaps the most iconic goalie goal in history during his college career at Albany and plays as an attackman in indoor lacrosse, it was a chance to remind defenses to slide to him.

“I thought by now I’d be on the scout maybe as a guy to slide to," the netminder joked, "but I’m all for defenses sitting back and letting me close my eyes and put one in the back of the net." 

Riorden’s first pro goal was one of two major milestones he recorded Sunday. He also notched his 1,000th career save later in the game, further cementing his Hall of Fame career and GOAT status.

“I’m getting older, and I’ve been fortunate enough to play this game at a high level for a long time,” Riorden said. “I think that’s the product of the people in my life. I’m fortunate for my health, you know, longevity, and as you get older it takes a village.”

One more win should be enough for the Chaos to clinch the playoffs, and it will take every ounce of Riorden’s game to get them there. 

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