Hockey: Defensive lapses cost Black Sticks dearly

Crucial defensive errors leading to soft goals again cost the New Zealand women dearly as they slumped to a 2-0 loss in the third test in Tauranga on Saturday and an overall 2-1 series loss.

And, on attack, it was no better.

In the last two games the Black Sticks failed to score, as Argentina bounced back from an opening 3-1 loss in Hamilton to win the second international in Tauranga on Friday, 6-0.

"We didn't give ourselves too many chances to score," said coach Mark Hager. "We forced five penalty corners in the first test but only three in total in the last two and didn't really threaten to convert any."

They also missed a penalty stroke which could have got them back to 2-1 with 13 minutes to play on Saturday.

"Our lack of match play at this level was exposed. We don't play enough high-tempo hockey on a consistent basis, and that will find you out. We also need to get our fitness levels up.

"With the way the game is played now, having a strong anaerobic is imperative. What we have been doing in training is have a flat-out nine-minute spell, rest and then go again for nine minutes.

"In many ways that mirrors what we do in a game when rotating players from the bench.

"After that strong first-up effort, signs of tiredness started creeping in, which is understandable as the girls haven't had much hockey - and certainly not at this level or intensity - lately," said Hager.

"And, their coach was pretty angry after losing that first test. He had his players fired up in Tauranga."

Marcela Casales swooped on a 10th minute mistake by Clarissa Eshuis to race away and open the scoring for Argentina on Saturday.

The second came eight minutes into the second half when a defensive mix-up allowed captain Alejandra Gulla to nip in and score.

Hager has said it was most unlikely that any new caps will be named in the squad to play the upcoming Indian series but he would not know for another week or two whether his four European-based players Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson and Katie Glynn would be available.

Their Dutch club is still two points away from getting out of a relegation battle. He will, however, be without star performer Gemma Flynn, who is off to play in Germany until June.

Hager will name his team for July's Champions Trophy in England in late May-early June, with a June 26 departure date for the four-nation tournament in Holland en route to the July 11-18 Trophy.

There will be little time at home for him and his players as they plan to leave for the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina, on August 20 with the hope of three warm-up games against other World Cup-bound teams in Buenos Aires en route.