BEIJING • Olympic heartache continues for the U.S. women’s water polo team.

The Americans lost, 9-8, to the Netherlands in the gold medal game Thursday when Dutch superstar Danielle de Bruijn scored with 26 seconds left.

The loss follows a trend. The U.S. lost in the gold medal game in the final seconds in the 2000 Olympics, lost in the final seconds of the semifinal in 2004 and lost again in the waning seconds Thursday.

This defeat is easy to explain. The Americans could notstop de Bruijn, who scored seven goals in her final game. She announced her retirement after the medal ceremony.

“Now I think I will do other things in my life besides water polo,” de Bruijn said.

The Netherlands quickly rolled to a 4-0 lead, and the Americans never recovered. The U.S. tied the game at five and later at eight, but never led.

The U.S. nearly answered de Bruijn’s goal. With two seconds left, American captain Brenda Villa waded in for a close-in shot for the tie, but her attempt was batted away by goalie Ilse van der Meijden.

It was a bitter, and surprising loss. The Americans, rated No. 1 in the world, had dominated the tournament and arrived in the gold-medal game without a loss.

The Netherlands had lost twice and barely survived the semifinal game, where it upset Hungary.-Contact the writer: Columnist David Ramsey can be reached at 476-4985 or david.ramsey@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out David’s blog at http://daveramseysez.freedomblogging.com

Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE