The Black Sticks run at the Hockey World Cup is over after losing to Germany 1-0 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam.
Black Sticks Katie Doar and Germany's Linnea Weidemann. Photo: Frank Uijlenbroek
New Zealand came out of the gates a little off the pace and Germany took full advantage with a pair of early chances expertly denied by both goalkeeper Brooke Roberts and the upright post.
Germany also won two penalty corners late in the first quarter which were denied by the Black Sticks penalty corner defence.
Alia Jaques was green carded at the start of the second quarter which the Germans took advantage of to score a minute later with attacker Lena Micheel finding herself behind the defensive line to receive a well-timed ball from one of her teammates.
Germany continued to apply the pressure and won a further four penalty corners but Roberts was on hand once again to deny any more German goals.
The Black Sticks came into the second half with more intention and won their first penalty corner of the game late in the third quarter with Olivia Merry, playing her 250th test, coming within an inch of putting the sides level if it wasn't for a slight deflection off a German stick.
Merry also had a similar opportunity in the fourth but was denied by a world class save from Nathalie Kubalski.
Germany saw two players green carded, in quick succession, midway through the fourth quarter which encouraged New Zealand to pull their goalkeeper for two minutes, to give themselves an extra outfielder player, but they were unable to take advantage with the Germany progressing to the semi-finals.
The young Black Sticks squad will now turn their attention to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games where their opening match is against Kenya on 29 July.
