Robyn Silvernagle and Team Saskatchewan have lived to play another day.
Silvernagle and her rink of third Stefanie Lawton, second Jessie Hunkin and lead Kara Thevenot battled to a 9-7 victory over New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford in a tiebreaker on Thursday morning.
As a result, Saskatchewan advances to the championship pool and faces Prince Edward Island’s Suzanne Birt in their next contest during the 12:30 p.m. draw.
Both teams had finished 4-3 and tied with Team Canada’s Chelsea Carey for third in Pool A after the final preliminary draw on Wednesday night. Carey advanced automatically via the first tiebreaker.
Silvernagle got off to an ideal start, taking two in the first end and then stealing in the second for a quick 3-0 lead. Crawford clawed back into the contest, though, and only trailed 5-4 through seven ends.
Saskatchewan looked to take control of the game in the eighth when Silvernagle landed a pair of dagger-strike draws to the four foot – one from each side of the ice, no less – to score two and take a 7-4 lead.
Crawford got two back in the ninth, though, and when Silvernagle was heavy with her final draw for a piece of the button, stole one to send the contest into extras.
Silvernagle was a touch heavy on her final draw in the 11th, sitting in the four foot slightly behind the t-line and just off the button. Crawford attempted a freeze and was just light, giving Saskatchewan the steal and the win.
Saskatchewan was unavailable for comment due to the need to prepare for their game against Birt.
For Crawford, third Jennifer Armstrong, second Jill Babin and lead Katie Forward, it was a disappointing end to an impressive mid-week turnaround.
“We did get off to a bit of rough start but I think we were really happy with the four wins we pulled together and we gave it our all out there today, so we have to be pleased with how we finished.,” Crawford said.
“Obviously we’re disappointed with the loss, but we’re happy we pulled it together in the second half and gave ourselves a chance.”
B.C. Corryn Brown also saw her Scotties stay extended after taking a 5-4 win over Nova Scotia’s Mary-Anne Arsenault in the B Pool tiebreaker.
The two teams were tied 2-2 through four ends when Brown, third Erin Pincott, second Dezaray Hawes and lead Ashley Klymchuk took one in the fifth and stole singles in seven and eight for a 5-2 lead. Arsenault picked up single points the next two ends, but would come up short.
“It was really good, we obviously had a chance to do that yesterday, but we’re glad we had another chance and we were able to finish it off today,” Brown said, adding that improved play from herself helped make the difference.
“It was just capitalizing, and I played a lot better, which helps when your skip is making shots in the first half of the game,” she said. “We came out strong, got that steal that nullified the hammer in the first end and that was huge and gave us momentum.”
Arsenault, third Christina Black, second Jenn Baxter and lead Emma Logan left the Scotties with their heads held high after an impressive run.
“It was my first experience at the Scotties and just be here was amazing,” Logan said. “I’m so proud of my teammates, this has been a special week for us, especially since this will be our last chance to play with Mary-Anne. So it’s a little bit emotional but it was a fun week.”
Brown was back on the ice in the afternoon draw against Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson (6-1), with the other two championship pool contests featuring Wild Card’s Jennifer Jones against (6-1) against Team Canada’s Chelsea Carey (4-3) and Ontario’s Rachel Homan (6-1) facing Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville (5-2).
The championship pool evening draw will see Saskatchewan vs. Wild Card, P.E.I. vs. Manitoba, Canada vs Ontario, and Northern Ontario against B.C.
