A new cycle for the New Zealand women's hockey team began today with a 1-1 draw against the United States in Stratford.
In their first action following a third-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a young Black Sticks side produced a pleasing performance for coach Mark Hager.
TheBlack Sticks fielded two debutants in wet conditions in Taranaki, taking a first-half lead through Sophie Cocks before being pegged back by American striker Michelle Kasold.
Considering he had a number of senior players missing against an experienced opposition, Hager was proud of the way his side played in the first of a six-test series.
"We have to give people the opportunity so they can prove themselves," Hager said. "It's good experience to put players under pressure, and I thought the signs from the game today were positive."
The Kiwis enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half and made it count when Cocks converted a nice piece of play, before the United States equalised in the second quarter.
The Black Sticks were unable to make the most of three consecutive penalty corners in the third quarter and a number of chances went begging in the final minutes.
"We created enough opportunities to win the game but it was probably a little bit of inexperience that we couldn't finish them off," Hager said.
