Peterson’s wild-card team edges N.W.T. skip Galusha to qualify for Hearts championship pool

Hearts rookie Beth Peterson of Team Wild Card Three played like a veteran Thursday at the Canadian women’s curling championship.

Her draw weight in form when she needed it most, Peterson stole a single in the 10th and added another steal in the extra end for a 9-8 victory over Kerry Galusha of the Northwest Territories.

The win gave the young Manitoba-based skip a topfour spot in Pool A at 5-3 and a berth in the championship pool in her first appearance at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

“(We) really pumped each other up and at the same (time) calmed each other down and really supported each other,” Peterson said of teammates Jenn Loder, Katherine Doerksen and Brittany Tran.

“I think that we were our best team in the 10th and 11th end that we have been this week.”

Galusha (4-4) was eliminated with the loss. Peterson threw at 76 per cent while the veteran N.W.T. skip was at 64 per cent.

Galusha’s tap attempt in the 10th end moved the second shot stone just enough to prevent a steal of two. The confident Peterson put the pressure on again in the 11th and Galusha’s draw to the button was light.

Team Wild Card Three shot at 81 per cent overall to 70 per cent for the N.W.T. side.

“The girls brought me back in after a few missed shots and we were able to capitalize in the last two ends,” Peterson said.