QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John’s University will recognize one of its greatest players of its program, Huey Ferguson, at the New York City Soccer Gala Feb. 25.

Ferguson, the leading scorer in program history, will be one of four local university honorees. He will be joined by Columbia University’s Amr Aly, Fordham University’s Jim McElderry and St. Francis Brooklyn’s Phil LaSpisa.

The gala will also welcome two well-known city honorees in former U.S. men’s national coach nd University of Virginia head coach Bruce Arena, who directs the New England Revolution, and longtime ESPN broadcaster Bob Ley.

Ferguson’s tenure at St. John’s coincided with the emergence of the Red Storm as a perennial contender at the national level. A freshman during head coach Dr. Dave Masur’s first season as the head coach in 1991, Ferguson went on to score more goals (50) than any other player in St. John’s history the next four seasons. He also recorded 30 assists, good enough for second all-time behind teammate Ben Hickey.

With Ferguson leading the way, St. John’s won three consecutive Big East titles during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Ferguson led the team in scoring in those three campaigns, including a career-high 17 goals as a sophomore in 1992.

A two-time All-American, two-time Big East offensive player of the year and three-time first team All-Big East selection, Ferguson helped the Johnnies to 61 wins in four years.

Aly won the 1984 MAC Hermann Trophy at Columbia a year after leading the Lions to the 1983 national championship match.

McElderry, a longtime head coach of Fordham who holds the position at Rutgers University, also directed the Rams to postseason success, as Fordham fell one win shy of reaching College Cup in 2017.

LaSpisa ranks among the top point-getters in St. Francis history, including a 38-point campaign in 1974. He was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1989.

To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact John Diffley at [email protected] or call 718-990-6836.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.