There is a clip on Loradana Paletta’s Instagram, featuring the 14-year-old playing for the New York City FC’s U15 Academy team with 150,000 likes. A teammate crossed the ball in from the right flank, but the defender, in black, stooped down, then up, attempting to generate enough power on the header to get the ball clear.
The ball bounced twice out of the penalty box before Paletta, in a pigtail and wearing the No. 72, flicked it up and over her marker without breaking her stride. She watched it fall, timing her volley and smashing the ball into the far corner of the goal with her weaker left foot in black and white LOTTO boots.
