DULUTH — It may only last for a couple of days, but for now Team Dropkin took the upper hand from Team Shuster in the USA Curling Men’s & Women’s Nationals, winning their round-robin meeting 9-5 on Thursday night at the DECC Arena.
Both teams are looking up in the standings at Team Casper, the lone unbeaten squad left in the standings through six of seven matches.
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Dropkin’s team had the edge starting in the third end, when they forced Shuster to accept a single point with the hammer in end three, then scored three of their own when they had the opportunity. Team Dropkin took a 6-5 lead and the hammer into the eighth end, scoring two to extend their lead before finishing the match off by stealing a single point in the ninth.
In the morning session Thursday, Team Dropkin took its first defeat of the bonspiel when Team Sampson scored three in the 10th end to win 6-4. It was the first time Team Dropkin had even had to go the full 10 ends.
Team Shuster rolled to a 9-2 win over Team Wendling in its morning match.
With one match to go for each team on Friday afternoon, Casper and Dropkin are guaranteed places in the four-team playoffs ahead of playing each other.
Shuster’s team plays Sampson, setting up the possibility of a two- or three-way tie (with Team Sinnett) at 4-3.
Team Peterson had a match to forget in its lone women’s match of the day, taking a heavy 9-1 defeat to Team McMakin, the lone unbeaten team left through five matches.
After a blank first end, McMakin’s rink scored three points in the second, then stole one in the third and two in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. A single in the fifth end was all Team Peterson could manage.
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Peterson’s rink is still 4-1 and a pretty safe bet for the playoffs. Their remaining opponents include teams Benson and Peterson, both in contention in a congested middle of the standings. After Team Cousins in third at 3-2, there are four 2-3 teams.
The Duluth-based Benson rink fell 7-4 to Team Rhyme, leaving both teams with 2-3 records going into the final day.
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