CLINCHED: U.S. SENIOR MEN, SENIOR WOMEN TEAMS ADVANCE TO PLAYOFFS AT WORLD SENIOR CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022
© WCF / Ansis Ventins
On Thursday afternoon, the U.S. senior men’s and women’s teams found themselves side-by-side at Curling Club Trois-Chêne / Genève, competing in the World Senior Curling Championships 2022.
U.S. fans lined the glass of the second-floor viewing area as both teams competed in the final round robin matchups of their respective fields.
senior women
On the women’s side, Team USA, Margie Smith, Ann Swisshelm, Shelly Kosal, and Shelley Dropkin, faced a must-win scenario, needing to clinch the victory over Latvia to earn a berth into the playoffs.
The U.S. was first on the scoreboard, opening with a deuce against the top-ranked team in the pool.
After forcing Latvia to a single point in the second end, the U.S. executed a strong third end, making a takeout with hammer to score three and take a 5-1 lead.
Team USA successfully orchestrated a beneficial fifth end when Margie Smith made a double takeout on two corner-frozen Latvian stones that sat in the four-foot to score two and regain the five-point lead.
The sixth end, Latvia earned their first multiple-point score of the game as a couple American misfires on takeout attempts left Latvia an open hit for three.
USA immediately rebounded, drawing the paint for a four-ender in the seventh and locking in a 12-5 victory, clinching a playoff berth.
Team USA will play in a qualification game tomorrow at 1:00pm local time (6:00am CDT).
The winners of the qualification games will play the top-seeded teams in the semi-finals, where the winners will compete in the gold medal game and the losers will play for bronze.
senior men
© WCF / Ansis Ventins
On the men’s side, an unbeaten Team USA faced Canada, the only other undefeated team in the pool.
With both teams already qualified for playoffs, playoff seeding was up for grabs in the North American battle as the top two teams from each of the three pools qualify, along with the top the top two third-ranked teams with the best “Draw Shot Challenge.”
Reflective of their tournament thus far, the Canadians got off to a strong start, opening with a deuce and forcing the U.S. to a single.
Team Canada further extended their lead in the third end with a score of three, but the U.S. narrowed the deficit, securing a deuce to trail by two points at the close of the half.
The Americans forced Canada to a single to start the second half and regained hammer in the even ends.
In the sixth, the U.S. played an aggressive end to try to generate a big score but were left drawing against four Canadian counters in a crowded house. The hammer throw under curled, putting four more Canadian points on the board, leading to a U.S. concession and 10-3 final score.
With a 5-1 record in round robin play, the U.S. Senior Men’s team of Bob Leclair, Greg Gallagher, Jeff Baird, Tom Danielson, and Fred Maxie have clinched a playoff berth and will play in a quarterfinal game tomorrow at 9:00am local time (2:00am CDT).
The quarterfinal victors will advance to the semi-finals where the winners will compete for the gold medal, and the losers will battle for bronze.
—
USA Curling fans can follow the standings and live scoring through World Curling Federation’s website.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
