Great Britain ended their Women’s World Championship Division I Group B campaign with a penalty shootout loss to Slovenia after the game finished 3-3 in Suwon.
Nicole Jackson returned to the starter’s net and saw her side take an early lead as Lucy Beal scored from the top of the crease on the powerplay (3:07).
Slovenia hit back early in the middle period, Arwen Nylaander’s toe drag and shot levelled the game at 22:33.
This kicked off a spell of three goals in as many minutes as the teams traded offence. Great Britain were back in front at 23:43 when Katie Marsden’s shot from the left circle appeared to go in off a Slovenian stick and past Pia Dukaric in net.
Slovenia captain Pia Pren tied the scores once again at 25:58, successfully going one-on-one with Jackson.
Great Britain had a 17-8 shot advantage in that second period and the pressure continued into the final period.
On a fast breakout, Katherine Gale passed into the crease where Aimee Headland was first on the puck and knocked it past Dukaric for 3-2 at 55:13.
A GB penalty shortly moments later gave Slovenia a powerplay chance, which they converted when Sara Confidenti shot from the bottom of right circle.
Overtime was scoreless and Confidenti scored the winning goal in the shootout.
GB took a point from the game to finish with four points in five matches and a fifth-placed finish.
Katie Henry was named GB Player of the Game, while Abbie Sylvester picked up the team MVP of the tournament.
Head Coach, Mike Clancy, said: “The players played really well.
“We had a couple of slip-ups that allowed Slovenia the breakaway chances which punished us, but we stuck to the plan and kept possession well and generated some excellent scoring chances ourselves.
“The experience we’re going to take away from this week, learning about the physicality of the games, the speed, knowing that mistakes will be punished.
“These are all great points to take on-board and come back stronger next year.”
Korea won the gold medal and promotion to Division 1A after their final-day 2-1 win over relegated Kazakhstan.
Great Britain Women’s World Championship results
Monday 17th April: Great Britain 1-0 Kazakhstan – Goal: Katie Henry
Tuesday 18th April: Italy 2-0 Great Britain
Thursday 20th April: Poland 2-1 Great Britain – Goal: Beth Hill
Saturday 22nd April: Korea 3-2 Great Britain – Goals: Katie Marsden, Katherine Gale
Sunday 23rd April: Great Britain 3-4 Slovenia (after penalty shootout) – Goals: Lucy Beal, Katie Marsden, Aimee Headland
Photo credit: Karl Denham.