TEAM USA 4-3 AT WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2022
© WCF / Alina Pavlyuchik 2022
In the sixth game of round robin play, Team USA (Korey Dropkin, Joe Polo, Mark Fenner, Tom Howell, and Alex Fenson) faced Scotland.
The Americans hoped to carry the momentum from Monday night’s victory over Norway into their only matchup on Tuesday against the Scots.
It was Scotland that started the game with hammer due to better pre-game draw shot.
The U.S. successfully forced Scotland to a single point in the first end before giving up a steal of one in the second end.
After exchanging deuces in the third and fourth ends, the Dropkin-skipped rink put up a score of three points in the fifth end to make the score 5-4 and take the lead for the first time of the game.
Unfortunately, the lead established in the fifth end would be the only time the Americans were ahead on the scoreboard for the entire game.
Scotland controlled the second half of the game, scoring twos with hammer and limiting the U.S. to only singles, resulting in a 9-7 final score, moving the United States to a 3-3 overall record.
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. looked to bounce back in the matchup against Netherlands.
“Typically we like to get out a little together and talk anything but curling to help us reset after losses,” said lead Tom Howell. “We are pretty good about having a short memory when it comes to our losses and know that we can come back firing.”
The game against the Netherlands was even at the close of the first half, but the United States remained patient for the opportunity to score a multiple with hammer.
After blanking the sixth end, the U.S. leapt ahead with a score of three to take a 6-3 lead.
Team USA went on to shut the Netherlands out in the second half, stealing single points in both the eight and ninth ends, resulting in an 8-3 victory.
The win over Netherlands moves Team USA to a 4-3 overall record with five games remaining in the round robin.
“We’ve been really close to finding our stride all week, but just haven’t quite gotten there yet,” added Howell. “Today, we stayed in the moment and just tried to get our mojo back one rock at a time. We also had a little more fun.”
The United States will face Switzerland in their next game on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm CDT.
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.
