This year marks the 30th anniversary of Saint Louis University's inaugural women's soccer season. As part of the recognition of this milestone, SLUBillikens.com is highlighting the program's 11 (eight individuals and three teams) Billiken Hall of Fame inductees.
 
This week's featured Hall of Famer is midfielder Kelly Ferguson, a 2013 inductee who helped lead the Billikens to their first NCAA Championship appearance.
 
Click here to register for the Oct. 16-17 Alumnae Weekend/30th Anniversary Celebration

"The heart and soul of the Billiken midfield – and the team in general – is senior Kelly Ferguson." – From the season preview, 2005 Saint Louis University women's soccer media guide.
 
When Kelly Ferguson completed her collegiate soccer playing days, she was co-owner of the Saint Louis career record for games played (83) and ranked second in game-winning goals (10) and games started (81), fourth in goals (20) and seventh in points (48).
 
However, it's a good bet that anyone who followed the Billikens from 2002-05 places a much stronger emphasis on the intangibles Ferguson brought to the pitch. After all, one doesn't earn a description such as "heart and soul" simply by scoring goals.
 
One such follower, former Billiken Bill McDermott, notes that Ferguson "played with non-stop energy, an engine that wouldn't quit, and her performance never fluctuated from game to game. She was good in every aspect of soccer and dominated in the central midfield every game; when the ball went through her, she would always find the right teammate. Kelly has a quiet demeanor, but on the field, she let her soccer do the talking."
 
Ferguson arrived at SLU already a winner. She played on St. Joseph's Academy teams that claimed three Missouri state championships; in her senior season, the Angels garnered a No. 1 national ranking.
 
Following her freshman campaign in Midtown, Ferguson's teammates voted her SLU's Newcomer of the Year. Two of her three goals were game-winners, and she became a fixture in the Billikens' first XI after coming off the bench in the first two games.
 
Ferguson's performance in 2003 brought the sophomore third-team All-Conference accolades and a Most Valuable Player nod at SLU's Toys for Tots Tournament. She also earned a spot on the Conference USA Championship All-Tournament team for helping lead the Billikens to the final, where they were eliminated by DePaul in penalty kicks.
 
In its final season in Conference USA in 2004, Saint Louis captured a second regular-season league title. Ferguson played more of an offensive role, scoring five goals on her way to collecting second-team All-Conference plaudits and All-Tournament awards in two regular-season events, including a second Toys for Tots MVP. She also repeated on the C-USA All-Tournament team, but once again it was heartache for the Billikens as they fell to UAB in the championship game.
 
SLU made its Atlantic 10 Conference debut in 2005 still searching for the elusive NCAA Championship berth. Ferguson became one of the Bills' top offensive threats, scoring a team-high 11 goals – a total that remains tied for the fourth highest in program history.
 
After winning the A-10 regular-season crown with the program's first undefeated, untied conference record, the Billikens posted 1-0 victories over Dayton and Rhode Island in the A-10 tournament to earn their first trip to the NCAA Championship.
 
Facing 18th-ranked Stanford in the opening round, the Billikens took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute on Ferguson's 11th goal of the season. It turned out to be the senior's sixth game-winner of the year, topping the A-10 and setting a school record that would last 13 years. SLU advanced with a 2-0 win, but the historic season came to an end against Santa Clara in the second round.
 
Ferguson's senior-year performance netted her places on the NSCAA All-Region second team and the All-Conference first team. An outstanding student as well, she was selected to the Academic All-Conference team, the CoSIDA Academic All-District second team and the NSCAA All-Region Scholar Athlete first team.
 
Ferguson was chosen to the Billikens' All-Decade Team in 2005, inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2013 and named to SLU's 25th Anniversary Team in 2021.