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Big goalie makes big goal for Albany (Video)

By Juan Basadre

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Big goalie Blaze Riorden makes big time Lacrosse goal for Albany

Saturday, No. 6 Albany played No. 11 Cornell in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament and, very likely, produced a top 10 SportsCenter highlight.

Goalie Blaze Riorden intercepted a pass across the mouth of his own goal and blazed his way across the field, through two defenders, and delivered the shot heard around the world. The goal would be impressive by any player but is especially surprising when examining Riorden, who moves pretty well for his size and the distance he traveled.

Riorden’s play will live forever on SportsCenter highlights, but he played a better game than just that single moment. He had 19 saves and led the Albany Great Danes to a win in the first round of the Men’s lacrosse Tournament. The Great Danes are coming of a eight-game winning streak from the regular season into the playoffs and hope to make a push in the playoffs.

Watching non-major college sports, like Lacrosse, reminds us why we theoretically watch college sports in the first place. College athletics are suppose to give a sense of pride in our institutions and demonstrate the most basic reason for sports: fun and the love of the game.

Hats off to Blaze Riorden. Not only for an amazing goal, but for reminding us why he fell in love with watching sports in the first place.

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