Zikmunda Mazancova scored with 78 seconds left in the third period to lift Czechia a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in the opening game of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship.

Anna Vanickova carried the puck along the boards behind the goal line and fed it to the forward in the slot, where she fired the puck from one knee past Swiss netminder Talina Benderer.

The goal capped a third-period comeback for the Czechs, who struggled early in the first period after allowing a pair of goals 68 seconds apart.

Goalkeeper Michaela Hesova finished with 11 saves and eight Czechia players got on the scoresheet in the win.

"I always believe in my team and my team played amazing today, so it ended up working in our favor," Hesova said. "I knew that we were going to put those two in. And I was just like, 'I can't let any more in.'"

Switzerland opened the scoring 5:36 into the first period. Chiara Eggli collected a quick dish from Naemi Herzig in the high slot and wristed it past Hesova.

The Swiss doubled the score moments later with a power-play goal. With Barbora Jurickova in the penalty box for hooking, defender Alessia Baechler found Elena Gaberell at the right edge of the crease for a tap-in.

"The first period was very good," Gaberell said. "The speed on the ice was very good. We started very well. With two goals, it was a nice two periods."

"The first 10 minutes weren't the best for us," Hesova said. "We were mostly like pressuring them. Unfortunately they got two lucky ones in and then they were on the horse and we were kind of down. But I never stopped believing. I knew that we were going to tie it."

The Swiss managed to hold Czechia scoreless on 18 shots through two period with tight defense in the slot.

"We wanted to start with an absolutely strong defensive group and we did that," Swiss coach Melanie Haefliger said. "We didn't give them a lot of time, a lot of space."

But crisp cross-ice passing by the Czechs got the Swiss to open up and Czechia finally broke through early in the third period.

"They were so dangerous for us," Czechia coach Dusan Andrasovsky said. "(Switzerland) plays with self-confidence and they work hard. They blocked a lot of shots. They were very good opponent for us."

Between periods, Andrasovsky told his squad to "just believe in yourself" and Czechia responded. They got on the board with Beata Narovcova's tally, then tied it just under four minutes later on a strike by Veronika Hujova.

Klaudie Slavickova and Dominika Malicka opened up the Swiss defense with passing near the left faceoff circle before Malicka found Narovcova breaking toward net. The defender collected the puck at the bottom of the right circle and wristed it past Swiss goalie Talina Benderer 4:04 into the period.

At 7:02, Hujova's slap shot from the top of the left circle appeared to bounce off Swiss defender Zoe Maechler and found a hole between Benderer's left pad and the post to square the game at two apiece.

Czechia continued to press, and in the final period outshot Switzerland, 12-3.

Benderer, who was making her international debut, finished with 27 saves in the loss.

"I'm sad for the team, they worked so hard against strong opponents," Haefliger said. "It was a tight race for the goalies and for Talina Benderer, we believe in her."

Czechia will face Japan at noon on Monday. The Swiss take on Slovakia at 18:00.

"It was not a perfect game, not a good game for us, but (what is) important is that we played 60 minutes," Andrasovsky said. "I'm happy with the result but we have to be a little bit better tomorrow."