Canadian Women Clinch Berth in Semifinals

Canada’s unbeaten women’s curling team clinched a spot in the semifinals Saturday while the U.S. women’s team remained in contention and the U.S. men’s team moved close to elimination.

In women’s competition, Canada, the defending gold medalist, won twice with 9-4 victories over Japan and Denmark to improve its record to 8-0 with only one game remaining.

The U.S. women stayed in contention for a semifinal berth with two victories. In the early game, they routed Russia, 11-4, and in the late game, they rallied to get by Germany, 7-6. The U.S. and Germany are tied for the fourth and final semifinal berth with 4-3 records and two games remaining.

U.S. skip Kari Erickson led her team’s early victory when she made a game-breaking shot in the fifth to give the Americans an 8-0 lead. “It was very nice to pull out big shot,” said Stacey Liapis, Erickson’s sister and teammate. “We just haven’t been able to pull them off for a while.”

In other games, Britain beat Denmark, 8-6; Germany beat Sweden, 7-5; Sweden edged Switzerland, 8-7; and Norway beat Japan, 8-5. Medal round begins Wednesday.

In men’s competition, Denmark defeated the U.S., 9-7, putting the Americans (3-4) in seventh place with two games remaining.

Sweden beat Finland, 11-4; Switzerland defeated Britain, 10-4; and Norway beat Germany, 10-5. Germany and Switzerland are tied at 4-3 for the fourth and final semifinal slot. Norway and Canada lead the men’s standings with 6-1 records.