It’s not quite another Miracle on Ice, but there was a big upset Friday at the Winter Games in Milan, as the US women’s curling team knocked off Canada for the first time at the Olympics.
The Canadians, in an attempt to block the Americans from scoring two, bumped their own stone out of position, paving the way for captain Tabitha Peterson’s heroics on the final stone and a 9-8 victory.
That it was the U.S. first time beating Canada was a surprise to Peterson.
Tabitha Peterson of United States reacts during the match against Canada in Women’s Round Robin Session 3. REUTERS“That’s what I just heard too,” she said, per Reuters. “I know we came close in the past. Great time to beat the number one team … It was a good game, it was a good battle.”
The U.S.’s unlikely victory included a four-point sixth end.
Previously, Team USA had lost all nine times it had faced Canada, which is the top-ranked team in the world and has two golds, a silver and a pair of bronze medals in its Olympic trophy case.
The Americans hold a 2-1 record after having beaten Korea 8-4 and losing to Sweden 9-4 on Thursday. They next play on Sunday, facing China in round-robing play.
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Cory Thiesse, Taylor Anderson-Heide, Tara Peterson and Tabitha Peterson of Team United States celebrate victory in their the Round Robin match against Team Canada. Getty ImagesThe U.S. women have never medaled in curling, finishing as high as fourth in Salt Lake at the 2002 Games.
