The Fairport and SUNY Albany graduate enjoys playing lacrosse locally.
By Max Gerling
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Fairport High School and SUNY Albany alumnus Blaze Riorden has enjoyed life playing professional lacrosse locally. The 23-year old plays indoor lacrosse professionally for the Buffalo Bandits as a forward. Over the summer, Riorden plays goalie for his hometown Rochester Rattlers.
Blaze Riorden
After a successful career in net at SUNY Albany, Riorden was drafted by the Rochester Rattlers and his former Fairport High School coach, Tim Soudan with the 51st overall pick in the draft. Riorden had a decorated career at both Fairport and the University of Albany prior to his name being selected in the 2016 MLL draft.
In his final year at SUNY Albany, Riorden was named a USILA 3rd-team All-American, and a Tewaaraton nominee at goalkeeper. Riorden started in all 16 games for the Great Danes leading them to a record of 12-4. He finished the year with a 56.5% save percentage while allowing 9.68 goals per game.
Riorden was named to the America East All-Conference 1st-team and America East All-Tournament Team for his second-straight season. On May 9, Riorden was nominated for the 2015 Best Play ESPY by ESPN for end-to-end goal scored in NCAA Tournament victory at Cornell.
Riorden made his debut with the Rattlers last summer on June 11, against the Chesapeake Bayhawks. The rookie appeared in his second career game for the Rattlers on Aug. 4 against the Atlanta Blaze.
Riorden says communication is most important when comparing collegiate and professional lacrosse.
“With the 60 second shot clock it is so important to be communicating and directing traffic,” Riorden said. “It comes at you fast.”
In October, Riorden was signed by the Buffalo Bandits of the NLL to a one-year deal. The forward competed in nine games for the Bandits while scoring 19 points on 6 goals and 13 assists.
“My first season in the NLL was awesome,” Riorden said. “Being a competitor, it’s awesome to prove to yourself that anything is possible. Banditland treated me very well.”
Riorden says it’s a privilege and an honor representing his home city while being coached by his former high school coach.
“It’s awesome to still compete and play the game I love, especially where I grew up,” Riorden said.
Soudan and Riorden have had a special bond between one another since Riorden began playing youth lacrosse in Fairport.
“Coach Soudan has always been a lacrosse figure in my life,” said Riorden. “I grew up watching him and his knowledge of the game is awesome. Definitely awesome having him as a coach.”
Riorden says his transition from playing professionally outdoor to playing professionally indoor was rather challenging for him.
“The transition was a bit different due to the fact I played two different positions, said Riorden. “The biggest thing was getting in shape, it’s the hardest I have ever worked to play lacrosse and I love the entire grind.”
Riorden hopes to return as a leader in his second season with the Rattlers. The second-year goalie says he learned a lot in his first year with the Rattlers and hopes his knowledge of the game and the league rubs off on the rookies and younger guys that were selected to the team in the recent 2017 MLL Draft.
Article written by Max Gerling, the Rattlers intern from Oswego State and graduate of Fairport High School.