FREDERICTON – Rachel Homan’s third-seeded team was eliminated from the PointsBet Invitational on Friday after dropping a 7-6 decision to sixth-seeded Kristie Moore.
Moore, filling in for the absent Casey Scheidegger, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and held Homan to a single in the tenth.
Since traditional extra ends are not used in this event, Moore sealed the win by finding the rings with his draw on the button after Homan’s layup fell short of the paint.
“I knew it was what I wanted if we had that draw,” Moore said of his final 10th-round pick.
“We hadn’t played much of the game on the other side and I hadn’t drawn for a long time. I was glad to get this one. It’s complicated out there and it’s not easy to draw ice there.”
Moore led Scheidegger through two Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the 2021 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials before making a new team in the offseason as a jumper.
Despite her past experience playing with Jessie Haughian and against vice skip Kate Hogan and lead Taylor McDonald, Moore said it is a process to get familiar with the team.
“We’re just trying to learn as much as we can out there. We’re a new team, literally,” he said. “I was lucky enough to be able to practice with Taylor and Kate twice before the event, so we’re still learning … learning their trends and learning as much as I can this whole weekend. I’m happy to be here yet”.
Moore will next play second seed Kaitlyn Lawes, who beat No. 10 Penny Barker 9-4 to also advance to the semifinals of the knockout competition.
Fifth seed Jennifer Jones also advanced by beating No. 13 Selena Sturmay 11-9 and top seed Kerri Einarson doubled up No. 8 Kelsey Rocque 10-5. Einarson and Jones will meet in the other semifinal on Saturday.
In the men’s draw, top seed Brad Gushue defeated John Epping 8-4 to continue his march to the final.
Despite the win, vice-captain Mark Nichols feels the team still has work to do.
“There are some loose shots out there, from everybody, I think,” he said. “You’re definitely still knocking off some rust. You try to manage it as best you can based on how you’re feeling on the day.
“We had a good weekend of practice last weekend (in Toronto), but instincts take over when you’re out there. Fortunately for us, we’ve had enough experience on the ice to handle those situations.”
Gushue of St. John’s, NL, will meet Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers in Saturday’s semifinal. Carruthers edged Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8-6 to advance.
In other action, Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton defeated Colton Flasch of Saskatoon 10-3 to earn a spot in Saturday’s other semifinal against Matt Dunstone of Kamloops, BC.
Dunstone earned an 8-7 victory over Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont.
Play continues through Sunday at Willie O’Ree Place.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 23, 2022.