The tide may have turned for the Southern men's under-21 hockey team at its national tournament in Auckland.
The team took its first win of the competition after a dramatic shootout against Midlands, yesterday.
Southern's Aarie Verwey managed to counter Midlands' early score before halftime.
Neither side was able to crack the other's defence in the second half which sent the Southern men to their second shootout in three games.
Southern did not let the disappointment of its loss to Capital linger as Jordan Ward, Daniel Guthrie and Henry Will landed the team's first three shootout attempts.
Southern then lost its rhythm, missing its next two attempts, which let Midlands back into the match with the best of five shootout level at 3-all.
Jordan Ward stepped up for his team to take Southern's first sudden-death shootout attempt and was successful, leaving Capital with the right of reply.
Goalkeeper Dom Dixon equalled Ward's sudden-death heroics by stopping the Midlands attempt to seal the Southern men's first win of the tournament.
The team plays Central, who are winless after two games, in its next match today.
The Southern women's team enjoyed a rest day yesterday but is also back in action against the Midlands women's side, today.
