TRURO, N.S. - Val Sweeting is one win away from defending her Masters title.

The Edmonton skip scored two points in the first and third ends and cruised to a 5-3 win over Winnipeg's Kerri Einarson in semifinal action Sunday at the first Grand Slam of Curling event of the season.

Sweeting will play Ottawa's Rachel Homan in the women's final later Sunday. Homan advanced with an 8-5 victory over Winnipeg's Kristy McDonald.

Homan's cause was helped greatly by her strong opening, scoring four points in the first end.

Winnipeg's Mike McEwen and Jim Cotter of Vernon, B.C., advanced to the men's final.

McEwen scored three in the sixth end and held on for a 5-4 win over Calgary's Kevin Koe. Cotter scored four in the fifth in a comfortable 8-3 win over Saskatoon's Steve Laycock.