Great Britain Women were beaten 5-4 by Netherlands in their opening game at the World Championship Division 2 Group A in Korea.
GB fought back from 3-1 down to tie the game at 3-3 in the second period in the Kwandong Hockey Centre, but ultimately left empty-handed.
Julie Zwarthoed put Netherlands ahead after only 31 seconds for the only goal of the first period.
Bieke van Nes grabbed the Dutch’s second (27:28) before Katie Marsden broke into the Netherlands zone to close the gap only 17 seconds later (27:45).
Kayleigh Hamers restored Netherlands’ two-goal advantage (31:14), but Marsden pounced onto to a rebound for her second goal of the game at 31:51.
Nicole Jackson produced a fine pad save to deny Hamers on a penalty shot, before GB captain Leanne Ganney cut inside and fired in GB’s equaliser off the bar at 35:08.
Britain were to end period two behind when Van Nes grabbed her second of the game (38:32) and Hilde Huisman scored at the backdoor (46:43) just after GB had killed off their fifth penalty of the night.
Kim Lane netted on a doorstep rebound after Marsden’s shot was saved (58:12) to close the gap to one, but GB will unable to find any pressure in the final 90 seconds.
Assistant coach, James Ashton, said: “We are very disappointed. We did a lot of hard work in the training sessions and played games before we came out here.
“For whatever reason defensively we didn’t do what we normally do. You can’t win a game if you play poorly defensively.
“I think some of the players were nervous and I don’t think it is anything more. I don’t think anyone was jet-lagged or tired.”
GB return to action tomorrow against hosts Korea at 9pm (1pm UK time).