Great Britain Women were beaten 4-1 by the Netherlands in Sheffield today, meaning the two-game international challenge series finished level with one win apiece.
The GB coaching staff made eight changes from Thursday’s winning squad to give as many players as possible a chance in a game situation before naming their final World Championship squad.
Netherlands, shut out in the first game, needed only 189 seconds to get on the scoreboard with Nicky Tjin-A-Ton tapping in Bieke van Nes’ pass from the edge of the crease. The Dutch had the better of the play, with ten shots on Sam Bolwell to only five in return but the single goal was all that separated the teams at the first break.
The second period followed a similar pattern, with Netherlands scoring at 25.35 through van Nes and dominating possession – although the shots on goal were more even at 13-11. The visitors were again taking a lot of penalties but their penalty kill was excellent, snuffing out all seven GB powerplays today.
van Nes netted her second of the game at 43.33 to put the game beyond GB’s reach early in period three, and when Julie Zwarthoed made it 4-0 with just over five minutes to go goalie Sam Bolwell was replaced by Holly Steeples.
With time running down Great Britain burst the Dutch shutout with a sweet one-time strike by Louise Adams, firing past Bianka Bos from the face off dot from Georgina Farman’s cross ice pass.
Time expired on the 4-1 win for Netherlands and honours were even across the series, as they were on the continent twelve months earlier.
Speaking after today’s game, coach James Ashton said: “It was a difficult game today, but we knew from the way Netherlands finished yesterday’s match that they’d be fired up today.
“The biggest difference is that we didn’t play as well as we did on Thursday. Not only did we change the personnel but the team dynamics had changed – how the players worked together, how they communicated with each other – it was not as clean and crisp as in that first game.
“We knew that there was pressure on today’s squad, not only because of the win yesterday but they way the team played. Some players soaked up that pressure and stepped and performed, but there were quite a few that didn’t.
“I think when we finalise the squad there will be changes and I think some players realise that now. These two games have helped to justify the decisions we will make to select a squad to take this programme forward.”
Great Britain’s Division 2A championship is in Bled, Slovenia from April 2-7 where they play DPR Korea, Korea, Poland, Croatia and hosts Slovenia.
Friday scoring: Adams 1+0, Farman and Rigby 0+1. Net: Bolwell (54:33) 32 shots, 28 saves. Steeples (5:27) 1 shot, 1 save.