GB U18 Women took fourth place in the World Championship (Division 1 Qualification) in Austria as they were beaten 2-0 by Kazakhstan U18 Women in the bronze-medal game.
GB outshot Kazakhstan 27-24 – putting in an impressive performance – and had a goal disallowed early in the second period.
The GB youngsters qualified for the bronze-medal game by taking second place in Group B, with two victories in three games over Poland and Australia but defeat by Italy.
Casey Traill had two chances and Abigail Culshaw was denied from close range as GB had two early powerplays.
GB continued to have good possession and a neat bit bit of skill skating at speed into the offensive zone by Katie Marsden saw her go close.
Kazakhstan took the lead short-handed when Malika Aldabergenova won the face-off and fed it back to Anastassiya Petsevich to fire past Izzy Wallace (15:15).
Wallace then had to be sharp to stop a shot from right point by Alina Yakupova.
GB thought they’d scored early in the second period as Shannon Douglas converted Marsden’s pass at the backdoor, but the goal was washed out as the referee called the goalscorer for player in the crease.
After killing off a succession of penalties, GB had some half chances at the other end but they fell two behind as the session was coming to a close.
Yakupova’s shot from right point was deflected in by Petsevich for her second of the afternoon (35:25).
GB had a good start to the third period and Douglas was denied on a three-on-one breakaway, while Gruber’s shot from the slot was turned away by netminder Alexandra Oliyenko.
Charlotte Edgar hit the post as GB pushed for a way back into the game, but Kazakhstan held on and Oliyenko secured a 27-shot shutout.
GB netminding: Izzy Wallace 22/24