Long Island's Paletta scores twice on debut as U.S. U-17 women post 17-0, largest FIFA World Cup win on record

Paletta's two-goal debut powers a record U.S. victory

Long Island forward Loradana Paletta scored twice in her senior tournament debut, and the U.S. U-17 women's national team routed Samoa 17-0 in the U-17 Women's World Cup on Monday in Morocco, a margin reported as the largest ever recorded at any level of a FIFA World Cup. Paletta, a 15-year-old Syosset, N.Y., native and New York City FC academy player, struck in the 25th and 37th minutes and added three assists before being substituted in the 73rd minute. The match was Paletta's first at a U-17 World Cup; she was called up in March for the qualifiers.

Paletta's first goal came after an attempted cross was deflected by goalkeeper Susahna Peacock, and Paletta converted the loose ball to make it 5-0. Her second arrived after she received the ball, drove into the center of the penalty area, and finished past a diving Peacock. The New York Post, which featured her last summer, reported that Paletta said playing for the national team "has always been a dream."

DiMaria's six-goal night sets two tournament marks

Teammate Maddie DiMaria scored six goals in the group-stage match, a figure the reporting described as a record for the most goals ever by a U.S. women's team player in any match and the most by any player in a single U-17 Women's World Cup game. DiMaria opened the scoring in the second minute. Ten different U.S. players scored in the win, which came in Group E at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.

U.S. coach Ciara Crinion told FIFA's website the team was "really happy with the result," adding that the side knew the first group game "can be a tough game with the emotions" and was able to "continue to be able to put the ball in the back of the net."

Other developments

Separately, Wichita police said a woman who drove a pickup truck onto a Kansas youth soccer field over the weekend, killing two people and injuring several others, was released without charges after investigators interviewed her and spoke with the local district attorney's office.

The U.S. is scheduled to face Kenya in its next group-stage match on Thursday.