New Zealand have been thumped in their first women's hockey international against Argentina in Buenos Aires today.
The match was scoreless at halftime before the world No 3 Argentina put four goals past the fourth-ranked Black Sticks to comfortably win the first of five internationals in the series.
The hostswent ahead five minutes after halftime through Maria Granatto, before the classy Delfina Merino added a second at the end of the third quarter. Julieta Jakunas and a Noel Barrionuevo penalty corner strike completed the scoring.
The match was the first between the teams since the World League final in Auckland, when New Zealand won their quarter-final clash 2-1 in November.
The second international is on Friday morning (NZT).
