U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles force an extra end, but still Falls to South Korea

Big three-pointer in regulation forces an extra end, but can’t seal the deal

Cortina Bay, ITA- The second match in the doubleheader at the Olympic curling House in Cortina Bay, Italy, had Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin taking on a struggling South Korea side, the team of Kim Seon-Yeong and Jeong Yeongseok. The match was a tight one with plenty of errors from both teams, yet the USA made more than the Korean’s did. But the Corey’s came up huge in the final end to tie and force an extra, but still fell to the final score of six to five.

Overview

It wasn’t a good start for the team of Thiesse and Dropkin, as they continued to have poor stones thrown at the target. Even though South Korea also made the same mistakes, it was more glaring because Team Seon-Yeong & Yeongseok had lost five straight matches since the mixed doubles tournament began at the Olympic Curling House.

South Korea took the first two ends, only taking a single point, then trading one point with the USA between the third end through the sixth end. Even though Team USA minimized the damage against them, the Koreans took another point for a two-point lead, making the score 5-2. When the 8th and final end in regulation came, Team Thiesse and Dropkin finally came back to life as they secured another big play.

Team USA had two stones inside the button, and another stone just inside the back end of the four-foot circle. While Korea was setting up a guard with their fifth and final stone of the eighth end, Team USA sent the hammer down and broke up two to three of Korea’s stones, but one of them was still just hanging on to keep the three points alive. If that third stone completely left the target, Team USA would’ve had four stones inside and would’ve made a miraculous comeback victory.

Instead, it tied the score at five and forced an extra end. Unfortunately, Team Thiesse and Dropkin misplayed their stones and allowed South Korea to take their first victory in six matches of Olympic Curling. Thiesse and Dropkin are currently on a two-match losing streak since starting hot with four straight wins. While still in a good position to head to the Semi-Finals, they must regain their focus and take on their next opponents right away.

They will face Estonia for their first match, then later on they will take on Sweden. Please watch these matches streaming on NBC’s Peacock or NBC affiliated Stations likke USA Network, and NBC National.

Olympic Curling News:

• U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles Team Falls to Great Britain after a Tight Contested Match
• U.S. Curling mixed doubles easily defeats Czechia to go four straight in Round Robin play
• U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles Team with a Big Three Pointer late upsets Canada

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