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MONTREAL -- Rachel Homan and Team Canada have served notice theyre ready to defend their title at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The defending champions grabbed the early lead and held on for a 9-6 win in nine ends over Quebecs Allison Ross on Sunday to emerge from the second day of play at the Maurice Richard Arena as the lone team yet to lose a match. "Its where I hoped wed be," said 24-year-old Homan (3-0). "You never know whats going to happen, but the teams playing really well. Weve just got to keep rolling." With previous victories of 8-3 over Manitoba and 9-3 over Ontario, both in eight ends, they have piled up points against some highly-regarded teams without yet having to go the full 10 ends. But Homan and the team were most concerned about giving up three to Quebec (0-4) in the second, which drew a roar from the 2,281 in the seats. "We gave up three in two, but thats alright -- mistakes will happen," said Homan. "Were learning the ice and different draws will be different weights." "I underthrew two halfway hits and that didnt turn out well and then Rachel threw one we thought was good but it sailed off," said Team Canada third Emma Miskew. "We got tricked a little on either the speed or the weight. "We didnt throw any more finesse shots after that because it tricked us a little." The evening draws saw two matches go to extra ends as both New Brunswick and P.E.I. pulled off victories. New Brunswicks Andrea Crawford (2-1) scored a single in the 11th end to take a 4-3 win over British Columbias 22-year-old skip Kesa Van Osch (1-3). And Kim Dolan (1-2) of P.E.I got her first victory of the tournament, 7-6 over Quebec in 11 ends. In the other late draws, Newfoundlands Heather Strong (3-1) edged Yukons Sarah Koltun (1-2) 6-5. Koltun scored singles in the ninth and 10th ends but fell short of the comeback. And Albertas Val Sweeting (3-1) scored three in the sixth end en route to a 5-4 victory over Nova Scotias Heather Smith (1-2). The afternoon draw saw some wild finishes. Stefanie Lawton (2-1) of Saskatchewan tied her game up with two in the ninth and then stole two in the 10th to win 8-6 over Sweeting. "Tied up coming home, without hammer, we know what we have to do," said Lawton, whose side gave up two in the 10th to lose 5-4 to Manitoba in the morning draw. "We have to put up two guards and get one on the button. "We got away with one when they kissed the guard and bit and I was able to put another on top of that and put the pressure on them. Theres going to be lots of games that will be battles. You just have to keep plugging away." Another cliffhanger saw Manitobas Chelsea Carey (2-1) get the point she needed in the 10th to defeat the B.C. side 7-6. And Ontarios Allison Flaxey (1-2) scored two in the 10th and a steal of one in an extra end to down Newfoundland by 8-7. Homan won last years Scotties as skip of Team Ontario, beating Jennifer Jones Winnipeg rink in the final. Jones isnt at this years tournament, having won an ultra-competitive qualifying tournament to represent Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Other top teams bowed out in their provincial championships, some citing mental fatigue from trying to make the Olympic team. But Homans side was spared that because they qualified automatically for the Scotties as the defending champions. "That definitely helped us," said Miskew. "Theres a lot of new faces here, but its nice to see a lot of young teams here." "We definitely have room to improve. We had a bad end but we were able to bounce back, so that was important for us. It seems every game you get a little better and thats our goal." Team Canada is part of the youth movement. Homan and Miskew are both 24, while second Alison Kreviazuk is 25. Theyve been playing together since they were young kids. Lead Lisa Weagle, 28, joined them later. Building a big lead in the morning draw against Ontario allowed them to give some playing time to their alternate, Stephanie LeDrew, who substituted for Weagle for the final two ends. "Its good to have her throw some shots and see the lines," Homan said of LeDrew. "You never know during a week if youre going to have to use her or not. "Hopefully not. Hopefully shell just be there to cheer us on, but its good to get her in early." LeDrew normally plays for Hollie Nicols Toronto rink, but she was brought in as an alternate by Homan for last years Scotties in Kingston, Ont., as well as for the 2013 womens world championship in Riga, Latvia. She got into three matches last year. "I know what it is to be prepared to jump in at a moments notice," said LeDrew. "I actually went for a jog around the arena in the sixth end to be prepared to go in the seventh, so I was warmed up and ready to rock." LeDrew said it is usually a team decision to get the alternate some playing time. "It tends to be on the ice between ends, if they have a big lead going," she said. "They see it as a good opportunity to throw the alternate in. "They also want to get me in because I have to play in two games, for at least one end in each game, in order to be eligible for the jewelry (prizes) at the end of the week -- the diamonds. So theyre being good to me." The match also pitted sister against sister as Alison Kreviazuk faced Lynn Kreviazuk, the Ontario second. "Actually, I havent played against Lynn in a few years, so this was kind of a first for me," Alison Kreviazuk said of her 22-year-old sister. "We get along great, so theres nothing negative. "They played really well, they just had a few bad breaks. I know shell pick it up for the next one." The morning draw saw more one-sided wins as Yukon downed P.E.I. by 10-3 in eight ends. Nova Scotia, beat New Brunswick by 12-2, also in eight ends. Yukon scored five in the eighth end to prompt P.E.I. to concede, while Nova Scotia had ends of four and five points in their romp over New Brunswick. NMD For Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. NMD Outlet . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. https://www.cheapnmdoutlet.com/. HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. NMD China .com) - Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is set to return Tuesday against Nashville after sitting out the past two games because of a minor upper body injury. NMD Replica . -- Shanshan Feng was alone in her opinion about the pin positions in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.MANCHESTER, England - While Europes other big leagues take a breather over the festive period, clubs in the English Premier League begin a traditionally frenzied spell of fixtures that excites fans, exhausts players, tests managers, and potentially defines campaigns.A run of four games in nine or 10 days kicks off on Friday with a full program, with Chelsea looking to tame one of the surprise teams of the season to stay in first place and keep title rival Manchester City at arms length.West Ham arrives at Stamford Bridge in fourth place and as Londons No. 2 team this season, a side reborn under Sam Allardyce following summer orders from the hierarchy to play a more attractive brand of football.West Ham is certainly doing that — and impressive wins over City and Liverpool so far suggest a trip to Chelsea will hold no fear.Playing against Big Sam (Allardyce) is a hard job for us, we have to cope with it, said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who thinks his team has the hardest festive fixtures of all of the top teams with games at Southampton and Tottenham to come.By beating Stoke on Monday, Chelsea restored a three-point lead over City and ensured it would be top on Christmas Day — a noteworthy milestone that has special significance for the Blues. The last three times Chelsea has led the league on Dec. 25, it has gone on to win the title.What we did in the past is not important, Mourinho said. Whats important is this season, and this season we are top of the league since day one and we are there because we are playing really well.In my opinion we are the best team.Here are some other things to look out for in the 18th round:___EXCITING WEST HAM: When West Ham last travelled to Chelsea, in January 2014, the visitors held on for 0-0 despite conceding 39 shots on their goal, and were accused by Mourinho of playing football from the 19th century because of their defensive tactics.That is unlikely to be the case this time round, with Allardyce recently speaking of his fantastic options up front with strikerss Andy Carroll, Diafro Sakho, and Enner Valencia, and attacking midfielder Stewart Downing looking sharp.ddddddddddddere playing great football, and any team that we play against is going to be worried about us, said Carroll, who has rediscovered his best form after injury. Weve got more than one attacking option - we play it on the floor, play it in the air, down the sides.West Ham hasnt been in a higher position in the top flight of English football at Christmas Day since 1985.NO STRIKERS FOR CITY: Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini is facing the unenviable task of negotiating the festive period without any strikers.Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic will again be missing when City plays away at West Bromwich Albion. City coped on Saturday against Crystal Palace, playing midfielder James Milner up front and winning 3-0.Pellegrini said Dzeko and Aguero are unlikely to return until the second part of January but Jovetic will be sooner.City has won its last six league games in the defence of its title.VAN GAALS TREAT: Louis van Gaal is breaking with tradition at Manchester United and giving his squad Christmas Day off.Players used to train on Christmas Day under long-time coach Alex Ferguson, and did so in David Moyes short tenure last season, too. Van Gaal is dealing with English footballs unique festive fixture schedule for the first time, and sees things differently.I believe in a total human being, so the environment is also important, the Dutchman said ahead of Uniteds home match against Newcastle. They are more pleased to be at home with their wives and children.LEICESTER WORRY: Since the Premier Leagues inception in 1992, only two teams have stayed up when bottom of the standings at Christmas. The omens, therefore, are not looking good for Leicester.Leicester is winless in 12 games, five points from safety, and its manager Nigel Pearson is one of the favourites to become the first Premier League coach to be fired this season.Leicester is at home to Tottenham on Friday. ' ' '