U.S. Women’s Curling Team Falls Short to Canada in the Bronze Medal Game

Last chance Saloon to force an extra end or to win the game doesn’t come close.

Cortina Bay, ITA- The U.S. Women’s Curling team faced Canada in a very tough, well-thought-out match to get the Bronze Medal. A tight contest in the earlier ends, but Canada was able to grab two three-point ends to take big leads, and with a little bit of luck from poor shots by the USA, the Canadians were able to take the Bronze Medal home. As this was a great match for the USA and a great Women’s tournament in Olympic Curling, sadly, three of the four will fly back home with a medal. The Final Score: Ten to Seven for Canada.

Overview

In the first five ends, both teams earned a point, and the USA had a three-to-two lead. In the sixth end, Canada struck a big number as they took advantage of a poor throw from Tabitha Peterson. She used her last stone of the end to knock out the Canada stone inside the lower left 12-foot, but it gently tapped it, and never went out of the house. That allowed Rachel Homan to get the hammer and glide it inside the house for the three-pointer and a five-to-three lead. Then the USA earned a two-pointer in the seventh end with a big shot from Tabitha Peterson that went right through the middle of two guards from Canada and landed inside the button with another stone inside the four-foot that tied the game.

Canada earned another three-point end in the eighth end, with two inside the four-foot and using their seventh stone to take out the lone USA Stone. Then the USA continued to remove a Canadian stone while allowing Homan to use her hammer to enter the house and having three stones inside the four-foot and the button. eight-to-five. The USA earned another two points to cut the deficit to one in the ninth end. The tenth end was the decider as the house was congested and Canada was forcing the USA to make a big play on their last stone in regulation. Tabitha Peterson sent her stone down the sheet, but it hit the high guard enough to deflect it away from the house, giving Canada two points and the win without using their hammer.

Once again, some shot selections were lacking, but the women played their best. Just a bit of bad luck on the final end of the Bronze Medal game, hitting the high guard and not making it difficult for Canada to attempt to tie the game for an extra end, or sneaking away with a possible three points to take the medal. Until the next four years in the French Alps in 2030, let’s hope our Curling Teams can get medals and celebrate a big achievement.

Olympic Curling News:

• U.S. Women’s Curling Team Falls to Switzerland, will attempt the Bronze Medal
• U.S. Women’s Curling Team Needs an Extra End to Clinch Semi-Final Place over Switzerland
• U.S. Men’s Curling Team Concedes to Great Britain After Horrible Start
• U.S. Women’s Curling Team Falls on Last Stone Miracle Shot to Great Britain

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