A young Black Sticks team opened its Champions Trophy campaign with a 2-1 win over Japan in Argentina on Saturday.
The New Zealand women were dominant, producing eight shots at goal to Japan's two, twice as many circle penetrations and the majority of possession.
However, it took until the fourth quarter for all their hard work to pay off, with Olivia Merry and Ella Gunson scoring goals either side of a Japanese goal.
''I thought we played pretty well for the majority of the game,'' coach Mark Hager said.
''To win a penalty corner and put it away was good. I'm just happy to get the three points.
''It's disappointing that we let Japan equalise. We need to ensure that we play well for the whole game. We will get punished if we have any defensive lapses.''
Hager said the stand-out players were Merry, Michaela Curtis, Anita Punt, Sam Charlton and Pippa Hayward. There were some good attempts from the Black Sticks, especially in the second quarter, to open the scoring.
Merry earned a penalty corner that was well saved by Japan's keeper Sakiyo Asano, Sophie Cocks had a shot smothered by Asano, and Michelsen and Michaela Curtis were also denied their opportunities.
All the scoring happened in the frenetic opening moments of the fourth quarter when Merry, well placed in the circle, received a pass and knocked it in to give the Black Sticks a 1-0 lead.
Immediately, Japan bounced into action, and when Akiko Kato
found goalkeeper Sally Rutherford high in the circle and the goal open, easily took the opportunity and scored the equaliser.
New Zealand's winning goal came in the 51st minute when there was a breakdown at the penalty corner and Gunson, who was waiting on the post, deflected it in to seal the win.
The Black Sticks were playing the Netherlands, the No 1 team in the world, overnight.
