SOUTH Africa’s women’s hockey team went down 2-4 against Argentina in the opening match of the four-Test series at the National Sports Institute in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Pietie Coetzee scored both the South Africans’ goals when she converted penalty corners to leave the scored deadlocked at 2-2 during the break. Argentina, however, took no prisoners during the second half and scored their fourth goal with just three minutes left on the clock. South African coach Gene Muller said that persistent rain had hampered the squad’s preparations and led to their only warm-up game being cancelled. Muller added that he is sure his side can beat Argentina, who are ranked fourth in the world. The South Africans last played Argentina in a three-way series including India at home in March 1998. The Proteas drew the first game of the series against Argentina 1-1, beat the South Americans 3-2 in the second test, and lost the third 1-3.