The U.S mixed doubles curling team of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin haven’t yet advanced from the round-robin portion of the competition to the medal round. But they moved one step closer after defeating Estonia’s Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill, 5-3.
Team USA hasn’t officially clinched a trip to the medal round of the tournament, but it is in position to finish among the top four teams to advance with a 5-2 record, tied with Italy. Thiesse and Dropkin still have to face Sweden (5-3) on Sunday, but would be tied with Switzerland (4-3) if they lose.
A win would break that tie. The U.S. also faces Italy on Monday, presenting another opportunity to advance if needed.
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Great Britain was the first team to clinch a trip to the medal round, compiling a 7-1 record thus far.
Thiesse and Dropkin brought a 4-0 record into Saturday’s play, yet lost to Great Britain and South Korea. That put them in position to need a win on Sunday to advance.
However, the U.S. fell behind early after losing the first end 1-0. They evened the match by prevailing 1-0 in the second end. That began a back-and-forth exchange which left Estonia with a 3-2 lead going into the sixth end.
That sixth frame turned out to be the crucial one for Team USA. Thiesse had an opportunity to get three points, but her stone hit a guard and stopped just short of the house. That meant the U.S. would only finish the end with one point to tie the match at 3.
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But Thiesse and Dropkin finished their late surge by winning the next two sets. In the seventh, the U.S. prevailed when Kaldvee’s throw attempting to knock a stone out of the way sailed wide. And in the eighth, Team USA placed a stone just at the top of the button. Kaldvee tried again to knock the rock away, but her throw didn’t push it far enough.
Again, the U.S. is in good position to advance with its 5-2 record with two matches to play. Thiesse and Dropkin need to either beat Sweden (currently in fourth place) later on Sunday or defeat Italy (second place) on Monday to move on.