COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— Sixteen of the nation’s newest field hockey standouts will represent the United States as members of the 1998-99 U.S. Women’s National Under-16 Team.

Selected by the U.S. Field Hockey Association as a result of performances at the AAU Junior Olympics held earlier this month., the team is expected to compete in international competition in the Netherlands in April, 1999. The inaugural Under-16 team placed third at the Holland tournament in 1998.

Under-16 team veteran Katie Zacarian of Amherst, Mass. was the only repeat selection to the 1998-99 team, while identical twins Alexis and Natalie Martirosian of Richmond Va. each earned a spot on the national team.

The Under-16 Team serves to introduce young players to international competition while preparing athletes for future National Team consideration. In addition to the Under-16 team, the U.S. Field Hockey Association sponsors an Under-20 Team, a Senior Reserve Team and the U.S. National Team.

The U.S. Field Hockey Association is the National Governing Body for men’s and women’s field hockey in the United States, and is responsible for the training and preparation of teams to participate in the Olympic and Pan American Games and for the promotion and development of the sport throughout the United States.