The U.S. women’s curling team fell 7-4 to Switzerland in Friday’s semifinal match, ending its bid for a first-ever gold medal. The Americans will now face Canada in Saturday’s bronze-medal match.
The match remained tight throughout, with the U.S. grabbing an early lead before Switzerland answered with two in the second end. The Swiss used the hammer to their advantage, keeping the Americans just out of reach even as they tried to chip away at the deficit.
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Switzerland’s vice skip Alina Pätz was nearly perfect with a 99% shot success rate. Time and time again she added to the point total or kept the U.S. off the scoreboard in an end.
The U.S., led by skip Tabitha Peterson, could not out-strategize their opponents. It was a methodical win for the Swiss, who were stunned a day ago when the two teams met in the round-robin finale, which saw Peterson win it on the final throw of the extra end.
In the 10th and final end on Friday, the U.S. had one last chance, but Pätz denied any hope of extra ends and delivered a two.
Switzerland will play for gold on Sunday against Sweden.
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The U.S. will look for its first-ever medal in women’s curling since the event was added to the Olympic program in 1998. During the 2002 Salt Lake City Games the Americans fell in the bronze-medal match to Canada.
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