The Hockeyroos have wrapped up their Sydney leg of the FIH Pro League season with a penalty shootout loss to Germany.
With the match finishing at 3-3, the Europeans secured a bonus point with a 2-1 win in the shootout.
The result meant the Hockeyroos took points from all four of their matches at Sydney Olympic Park as attention now turns towards the next FIH Pro League series in Hobart starting on 28 February.
After defeating Germany 3-0 earlier in the series, the Hockeyroos led three times on Wednesday night but the Europeans found a response on each occasion before triumphing in the shootout.
The Hockeyroos made a dream start when they opened the scoring inside the first minute. Maddy Fitzpatrick's drag flick from a penalty corner proved too hot to handle as it stung the gloves of German goalkeeper Noelle Rother, the ball finding its way across the goal line.
A turnover coming out of defence allowed Germany to equalise with Cecile Pieper knocking the ball in.
Brooke Peris then restored the Hockeyroos' lead with a moment of individual magic, making space for herself at the top of the attacking circle and drilling a shot into the top corner to leave the Hockeyroos ahead going into halftime.
Neither side could add to their goal tally in the third quarter before Germany equalised through Jette Fleschutz.
Looking to arrest the momentum back, the Hockeyroos went ahead again when Steph Kershaw finished off a superbly worked team move that she started, with Claire Colwill and Peris instrumental in the lead-up.
With five minutes to go, Germany removed their goalkeeper and it paid dividends as Sara Strauss struck with three minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish.
Neither side could find a late winner as the match went into a shootout where both goalkeepers showed their class, Germany doing enough to win it 2-1 after five shots each.
Hockeyroos coach Katrina Powell said she was pleased with her side's standard of play.
"We've shown over the course of the week that we're a threat in shootouts as well. I'm really pleased with the progress the group has made over this mini-series," Powell said.
"It has been a really enjoyable experience; we've played some good hockey, scored some good goals and we've still got things to work on but we'll definitely take confidence from this into Hobart."
