Long Island soccer standout Loradana Paletta scored twice for the U.S. Under-17 women’s national team during a historic 17-0 rout of Samoa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The result marked the biggest victory in FIFA World Cup history at any level. Ten different U.S. players found the net, including the 15-year-old Paletta, as the Americans produced a record-setting performance.
Paletta, a Syosset, New York, native who plays for the New York City FC academy, scored in the 25th and 37th minutes. She also contributed three assists before leaving the match in the 73rd minute with the United States comfortably ahead.
Her first goal came after a cross from near the end line was deflected by Samoa goalkeeper Susahna Peacock. Paletta collected the loose ball and calmly sent it into the net, extending the U.S. lead to 5-0.
For her second goal, Paletta received a pass, cut toward the middle of the penalty area and fired a shot past a diving Peacock.
The teenager has emerged as one of the New York area’s most promising young soccer players and was profiled by The Post last summer.
At the time, Paletta said she “really” wanted to reach the U-17 World Cup. She also spoke about her bigger ambition: representing the senior U.S. women’s national team at a World Cup.
“It’s always been a dream when I was little — being on the national team,” Paletta told The Post last July.
She received a call-up in March for the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying matches.
The United States is competing in the group stage of the tournament, which is being held in Morocco.
Maddie DiMaria led the historic result with six goals, setting a new record for the most goals scored by a U.S. women’s national team player in a single match. Her total also established the record for the most goals by any player in one game at the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
DiMaria opened the scoring in the second minute, setting the tone for an extraordinary night for the Americans.
“We’re really happy with the result,” U.S. coach Ciara Crinion told FIFA’s website. “We knew the first game can be a tough game with the emotions and everything that goes with it. So we wanted to have a good performance and we felt like we got that and continued to be able to put the ball in the back of the net.”
The United States will return to group-stage action Thursday against Kenya.
