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Canada beats U.S. for curling bronze
By Julie Dockstader Heaps
Deseret News Olympic specialist
OGDEN — Canadian women claimed the bronze medal in curling today, beating the U.S. women 9-5.
The U.S. women came from behind to tie Canada 2-2 but after that the closest they got was within two points, when the score was 7-5 after eight ends.
Going into today's game, Team USA was hungry for the country's first medal in curling to help elevate the sport's profile in this country but the Canadians — who had been the Olympic tournament's No. 1 seed — were looking to save some face.
In Wednesday's semi-finals, Switzerland dominated the United States and stole two points in the seventh end to down skip Kari Erickson's team 9-4.
In the other semifinal game, Great Britain carried the momentum of two tie-breaker victories Tuesday to beat Canada 6-5 in a stunning last-rock victory.
"We didn't play a great game," Team USA second Stacy Liapis said of Wednesday's semi-final. "You have to play perfect for days like this."
Team Sweden and Team Switzerland in men's competition might echo the same sentiment after losses to Canada and Norway in semifinal rounds Wednesday afternoon. Canada beat Sweden 6-4, and Norway defeated Switzerland 7-6 in a dramatic come-from-behind extra-end victory to advance to the gold medal game Friday afternoon. Sweden and Switzerland will face off for the bronze Friday morning.
Reflecting on the U.S. women's semi-final loss, Erickson admitted she struggled with draw weight in the game. This surprised Swiss skip Luzia Ebnoether.
"In the round robin she had great draws," Ebnoether said of Erickson. "It was our luck that she didn't play as well. It's great to be in the finals. We want the gold medal. We will win the match."
The women's gold-medal game between Switzerland and Great Britain was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Focus has been key to Great Britain's overcoming round-robin losses and winning into the finals. Team skip Rhona Martin, who is Scottish, said her team is happy to play under the flag of Great Britain for a gold medal.
"We're here as Great Britain, and that's a much bigger nation. A lot more people are paying attention than just Scottish curlers."
On his victory, Canadian men's skip Kevin Martin said, "That was a big game."
For Martin, who has been to five international competitions and has never won, that's an understatement. Team member Don Bartlett echoes his skip's sentiments. "It's means a lot to all of us (to win the gold)."
On Friday's gold medal round, he added, "We've got to curl well. Usually, when we curl our best, we don't lose."
E-MAIL: julied@desnews.com
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February 21, 2002
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