The U.S. women’s curling team lost 7-4 to Switzerland in the semifinals on Friday, ending their quest for their first gold medal. They will now face Canada in Saturday’s bronze medal game.
The score was tight throughout the game. The American team took the lead early, but the Swiss team responded with two goals in the second game. Switzerland used the hammer to its advantage, allowing Americans to take the risk off their hands while trying to cut the deficit.
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Switzerland vice-captain Alina Pätz had a near-perfect shot success rate of 99%. Time and time again she added to the total or ultimately kept Team USA off the scoreboard.
Team USA, led by Tabitha Peterson, was strategically unable to outmaneuver their opponents. It was a methodical victory for the Swiss, who had been stunned a day earlier when the two teams met in the round-robin final, with Petersen winning on the final shot of overtime.
The Americans had one last chance in Friday’s 10th and final game, but the Pats denied any hope of extra games and drove in two runs.
Switzerland will compete for gold on Sunday against Sweden.
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Team USA will be competing for its first medal since women’s curling was included in the Olympic program in 1998. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the United States lost to Canada in the bronze medal game.
