VICTORIA — Taylor Reese-Hansen had her "welcome to the Grand Slams" moment Tuesday afternoon in her top-tier debut at the Co-op Invitational.
Reese-Hansen opened the tournament against Alina Pätz, who won an Olympic silver medal, four world championships and six Grand Slam of Curling titles during her eight-year run with Silvana Tirinzoni. After Tirinzoni called it a career at the end of last season, Pätz returned to skipping and has barely missed a beat, winning three titles on tour already.
No worries for the world No. 18 Team Reese-Hansen. Victoria's very own had the home crowd on their side at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to help propel them to an 8-4 upset victory over the world No. 4 Swiss squad.
"It feels surreal," said Reese-Hansen, whose team includes third Megan McGillivray, second Kim Bonneau and lead Julianna Mackenzie. "Honestly, we were just so excited going into that game. We have so many friends and family who are here cheering for us, which really just gave us an extra shot in the arm, so that was so much fun and just extra special to come away with the win."
Reese-Hansen, who won a Tier 2 title in the series last season, opened with the hammer and converted for a deuce in the first end. After Pätz responded by taking two right back, Reese-Hansen scored a critical count of three in the third end.
Deuces were wild in five and six, but Reese-Hansen stole a point in seven to bring out the handshakes.
It doesn’t get any easier for Reese-Hansen, with the reigning Olympic champions Team Anna Hasselborg and reigning world champions Team Xenia Schwaller also on tap in the preliminary round.
"We definitely have a really strong pool, but regardless of what pool you're in, it's going to be really strong," Reese-Hansen said. "I think we made the right shots at the right time and really were able to keep control of that game, starting off with a deuce and just never letting up. It was good."
Her team will look to the home crowd once again to help fuel them.
"Oh, it's huge. When the crowd's cheering for you, you don't even realize how much momentum it gives you just throughout the game," Reese-Hansen said. "If you're feeling a little down, it can pick you up, or if you're riding high, it just helps you maintain. It was really, really special."
Hasselborg earns early morning win
It was probably the fastest decision Anna Hasselborg has ever made.
Fresh after winning a second Olympic gold medal in Milano Cortina, Hasselborg and her Swedish squad — third Sara McManus, second Agnes Knochenhauer and lead Sofia Scharback — opted to run it back for another quadrennial.
"It's never been on anyone's mind to do anything else," Hasselborg said after her team’s 7-3 victory over Italy’s Team Giulia Zardini Lacedelli in the morning draw. “We still think that we are the dream team that we put together 10 years ago, and we still love to play with each other. I still think that we have the best players that are available at each position and what we're doing is working. So no, we don't have it any other way.”
"I think the main discussion was if we're continuing, but never if we're changing any players," she added. "We came to the conclusion that … it's been four years and especially two years of building towards the Olympics. Everyone felt very happy with just going into the season and play each tournament for a tournament itself and not building so much for the future. Just be here now and continue to have fun."
Hasselborg broke a 1-all tie with a draw for three points in the third end and added a stolen point in the fourth. Zardini Lacedelli attempted an angle raise takeout, but her shooter sailed through untouched.
Although Zardini Lacedelli recovered to score two back in the fifth and forced Hasselborg to a single in the sixth, the handshakes came out after she gave up another steal in the seventh.
It was key for Hasselborg to start with a win and not have to dwell on a loss, as she has plenty of time to kill until her team’s next game Wednesday evening against Reese-Hansen.
"We said we have this early morning game and then we have a late night draw, so you definitely want to have a win in the first game, so you can be relaxed and go to the second game," she said. "Really happy with the start."
Tuesday's schedule and results
Draw 1
• Hasselborg 7, Zardini Lacedelli 3
• Fujisawa 8, Dupont 5
• Casper 10, Yamaguchi 6
• Bottcher 6, Eriksson 4
Draw 2
• Reese-Hansen 8, Pätz 4
• Einarson 7, Nihira 3
• Hösli 6, Mouat 4
• Y. Schwaller 7, Epping 6
Draw 3: 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
• X. Schwaller vs. Kang
• Hardie vs. Koe
• Dunstone vs. Maeda
• Gim vs. Miura
Draw 4: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
• Wranå vs. Ueno
• Homan vs. MacMillan
• Waddell vs. Ramsfjell
• Jacobs vs. Carson
Full-event, weekend and day passes plus single draw tickets are available. Visit GSOCtickets.com for more information.
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