U.S. Teams Stonewalled, Finish Day Without Win

OGDEN, Utah â€”  American curlers lost three matches Wednesday, with the women losing to defending gold medalist Canada, 6-4, and the American men losing to Germany and Norway.

Germany beat the U.S. men, 9-8, in an extra end in the morning, then Norway beat them at night, 6-5, scoring twice in the top of the 10th.

The men and women compete in 10-team round-robin tournaments, with the top four finishers in each advancing to medal rounds next week.

The American women are 2-1 and still in line for a qualifying spot.

The U.S. men fell to 1-3 and sit in ninth place.

In other men’s early games, Sweden topped Denmark, 9-5; Finland beat Switzerland, 6-5, and Norway defeated Britain, 7-6.

In late games, Canada routed France, 8-1; Sweden beat Switzerland, 8-7, and Britain defeated Germany, 7-6.

Canada, the 1998 silver medalist, is ahead in men’s play with a 4-0 record.

Germany, Norway and Switzerland follow at 3-1.

With the U.S. team up, 5-4, entering the final end--or inning--U.S. skip Tim Somerville barely moved a Norway rock out of scoring position. But that allowed Norway to set up for two points and the victory.

“I like to play close games, but I would rather win them,� Somerville said. “We’re not dead yet. Maybe it’s better for us to have our backs up against the wall.�

In the earlier game against Germany, Somerville needed to put his stone closer than the German stone to win, but instead hit his own team’s rock.

“It just ran straight,� Somerville said. “I have to be hard on myself. At this level it’s not as much fun. We want to win.�

In women’s competition, after winning their first two matches, including an upset victory over Sweden, the Americans lost in the final end Wednesday afternoon. The Canadian women stayed atop the standings at 4-0.

Germany and Switzerland are 3-0 with the United States is tied for fourth at 2-1.

U.S. women’s skip Kari Erickson missed a last shot to win against Canada. “I am not upset with our performance,� she said. “Canada has a great team. They played really well.�