The side went down 3-1 in Christchurch against the table-topping Canterbury United.
It was a tough affair played in hot conditions, although a strong second half enabled the hosts to pull away.
Southern had the better of the first half though, and that left it confident it was capable of winning the return match against Canterbury at Sunnyvale Park today.
Despite the strong start, it was Canterbury that scored first, 20 minutes in.
Gabi Rennie got on the end of a nice through-ball and took it to the byline, before finding Monique Barker, who made it 1-0.
Southern hit back five minutes later via former Canterbury player Britney-Lee Nicholson.
However, Southern was unable to find the goal again, and it was Canterbury that came out stronger after halftime.
Rennie scored in the 66th minute to give the hosts the lead, and she grabbed a double in the 81st minute to put it beyond doubt.
That second goal had been a defining moment, and Southern captain Mikaela Hunt felt the team’s response let it down.
"Definitely when they got that second goal, it was tough for us," she said.
"It’s never nice when you’ve had a really good first half and you feel like you deserve to be on top and then go a goal down.
"I don’t think we came back from that the way we wanted to.
"It ultimately cost us when they got that third goal."
Despite that, she said there were a lot of positives to take from the game.
Canterbury has won each of its five games this season and Nicholson’s goal was only the second it has conceded.
Playing at English Park made it all the more difficult for Southern, and the side would welcome today’s home game. Hunt was hoping the side could put together a full 90 minutes, knowing it was capable of taking a win off the league leaders.
"It was nice to take lots of positives from the game.
"We know there were moments in the game where we were playing really well and we can try to put in a 90-minute performance [today].
"We might change a few things to hopefully combat what they do, but we know we have the ability to take all the points from the game and we’re hoping to do that."
The team had recovered well yesterday and she said the players’ bodies were feeling good.
In yesterday’s other game Central beat WaiBOP 1-0 in a battle between two teams both searching for their first points.
Today’s kickoff is at 2pm.
National women’s league
The scores
Canterbury United 3
Monique Barker 20’, Gabi Rennie 66’, 81’.
Southern United 1
Britney-Lee Nicholson 25’
Halftime: 1-1
