Italy had won four of the previous six gold medals in this team event, but when Queens native Lauren Scruggs put the finishing touch on Arianna Errigo, she was shocked that she and her colleagues had just changed history.
Scruggs, the silver medalist in the foil individual final, Lee Kiefer, who defeated her teammate to win individual gold, Maia Weintraub, and Jacqueline Dubrovich shed tears of delight as they hugged after the 45-39 triumph.
Weintraub built a lead over Francesca Palumbo to make it 35-26, and Kiefer maintained it after making it.
Scruggs knew she needed to score five more touches to earn gold.
But Errigo, the veteran, would not take it easy on her. Errigo equalized within three touches as Scruggs continued to consult with herself on how to get her foil on the Italian first.
