American Peterson Defeats Canada’s Homan in Women’s Olympic Curling
In a thrilling encounter at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, American curler Tabitha Peterson triumphed over Canada’s Rachel Homan, securing a 9-8 victory in the women’s curling round-robin. This match marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time the U.S. women’s team had defeated Canada in Olympic competition.
Match Overview
On Friday, both teams entered the game with high stakes. Homan’s rink, which includes Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, started strong, scoring two points in the second end. However, Peterson and her team responded effectively.
Key Moments
- In the third end, Homan forced Peterson to draw against four of her stones.
- A crucial triple-takeout attempt by Homan in the fourth end allowed the U.S. to steal points.
- Canada took the lead with three points in the ninth end, bringing the score to 8-7.
- In the final end, Peterson made an open draw to earn two points and clinch the victory.
Current Standings
With this win, the U.S. improved its record to 2-1 while Canada fell to 1-1. Historically, Canada has been dominant in women’s curling at the Olympics, winning two gold medals, a silver, and two bronze since curling was reinstated as an official sport in 1998.
Peterson’s Reflections
After the match, Peterson expressed her excitement about the victory. “It’s a great time to beat the number one team. It was a good game, and a good battle,” she stated.
Future Implications
This match is particularly significant for Homan, who has represented Canada at three Winter Olympics. She has not secured a gold medal in women’s team curling since Jennifer Jones did so in 2014. Going forward, both teams will seek to leverage this experience as the tournament progresses.
